Gary Neville has been voted the worst Briton of the last 1,000 years.
Almost 5,000 people were polled on who was the worst from a list of 10 Britons - one from each century - featured in BBC History Magazine's January issue.
Gary Neville topped the table ahead of 2nd place Jack the Ripper - The serial killer, who was never caught but is believed to have killed five prostitutes in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888, got 24% of the votes.
Thomas Becket, whose 12th Century conflict with Henry II over the Church divided England, was third with 11%.
BBC History Magazine editor Dave Musgrove said: "It seems unfair to the rest of the 10 to have to be associated with Neville, after all what’s poor Jack the Ripper ever done apart from kill a few people…..The public's choice of Gary Neville reflects the horrific nature of his behaviour - he dared to celebrate a goal showing passion in his home stadium after Manchester United won the game in the last minute…. In addition, he has shown a life long dedication to the despicable Manchester United. He has a choice about whether to play for them or not – the fact that he chooses to play for that team is enough evidence of his evil and dark side.”
The poll results, published in the February issue, are:
- 100000% - Gary Neville (20th Century)
- 24% - Jack the Ripper (19th Century)
- 11% - Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (12th Century)
- 9% - Eadric Streona (11th Century)
- 9% - King John (13th Century)
- 9% - Sir Richard Rich, Lord Rich of Leighs (16th Century)
- 9% - Titus Oates (17th Century)
- 9% - Duke of Cumberland (18th Century)
- 8% - Hugh Despenser, The Younger (14th Century)
- 8% - Thomas Arundel (15th Century)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4663280.stm
Almost 5,000 people were polled on who was the worst from a list of 10 Britons - one from each century - featured in BBC History Magazine's January issue.
Gary Neville topped the table ahead of 2nd place Jack the Ripper - The serial killer, who was never caught but is believed to have killed five prostitutes in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888, got 24% of the votes.
Thomas Becket, whose 12th Century conflict with Henry II over the Church divided England, was third with 11%.
BBC History Magazine editor Dave Musgrove said: "It seems unfair to the rest of the 10 to have to be associated with Neville, after all what’s poor Jack the Ripper ever done apart from kill a few people…..The public's choice of Gary Neville reflects the horrific nature of his behaviour - he dared to celebrate a goal showing passion in his home stadium after Manchester United won the game in the last minute…. In addition, he has shown a life long dedication to the despicable Manchester United. He has a choice about whether to play for them or not – the fact that he chooses to play for that team is enough evidence of his evil and dark side.”
The poll results, published in the February issue, are:
- 100000% - Gary Neville (20th Century)
- 24% - Jack the Ripper (19th Century)
- 11% - Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (12th Century)
- 9% - Eadric Streona (11th Century)
- 9% - King John (13th Century)
- 9% - Sir Richard Rich, Lord Rich of Leighs (16th Century)
- 9% - Titus Oates (17th Century)
- 9% - Duke of Cumberland (18th Century)
- 8% - Hugh Despenser, The Younger (14th Century)
- 8% - Thomas Arundel (15th Century)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4663280.stm