As The Chuckle Brothers edge out the man who abolished slavery

The county gave the world such monumental figures as politician William Wilberforce, physicist Joseph Priestley, Captain James Cook, the Bronte Sisters and WH Auden.

But they have all been beaten to the title of ‘greatest ever Yorkshireman’ by a man whose claims to fame include being walloped across the face with a trout during a fish-slapping dance.

And while few would argue against Michael Palin topping the chart, it might be surprising that The Chuckle Brothers rated higher than the man credited with abolishing slavery.

The poll of 2,000 people was conducted by energy supplier npower to celebrate Yorkshire Day today.

Commercial director Andy Wiggans, said:’ We wanted to give the nation the chance to think about the region and how much it’s given the country – and the rest of the world. After all, where would we be without Monty Python’s dead parrot sketch – inspired by Michael Palin’s disastrous trip to a mechanic, who refused to accept there was something wrong with his car?’

THE TOP 10 BEST EVER YORKSHIREMEN

1. Michael Palin
2. Sean Bean
3. Sir Patrick Stewart
4. Ed Sheeran
5. Jeremy Clarkson
6. Brian Blessed
7. Alan Bennett
8. The Chuckle Brothers
9. Brian Clough
10. Geoffrey Boycott

THE TOP 10 BEST EVER YORKSHIREWOMEN

1. Dame Judi Dench
2. Jess Ennis-Hill
3. The Brontë sisters
4. Dame Diana Rigg
5. Maureen Lipman
6. Kimberley Walsh
7. Penelope Wilton
8. Jodie Whittaker
9. Nicola Adams
10. Amy Johnson

Published: 1 Aug 2018