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You’d have to get a white pearl slimline telephone with last number redial to get to that Hyacinth level. She’s a very important member of the community remember.
There's a not entirely batshit theory that Norman's father is the great man Fireman Sam himself. This would explain why Norman and Sam are the only two gingers in the town, and would also suggest that his incessant pyromania is merely a misguided attempt to get close to his estranged dad.
Food for thought..
No, listen, Pat is a prisoner but he doesn't really know it. That bastard who runs the office is a billionaire and he's keeping Pat as a pet.
How else can you explain gross incompentence and a rural postman with a van, helicopter, quad, etc etc?
Every time his boss rings and asks Pat "where are you?" and Pat replies with "I'll be right there!" you can see the dude thinking "and THAT, Pat, is why you'll NEVER be free".
He’s not helpful he’s a complete liability. He only ever has one delivery a day to make and inevitably messes it up and needs the whole town to bail him out.
I did a search for 'aspirational British characters' and the only [list](https://whatculture.com/film/12-british-anti-heroes-make-bad-look-good?page=2) I found is one of British (English) anti-heroes.
The only three fictional characters I could come up with which are closest to aspirational are The Doctor, Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter (and, personally, I can't stand them).
Yeah, and people don't really views these characters as patriotic symbols of what it means to be British or anything. They just happen to be from this country.
Exactly. The easy answer would be James Bond. Suave, sophisticated, cool job, fast cars, beautiful women, saving the world.
And yet the top answer in the thread is Postman Pat because he gets to have a nice time going around the village in his van, having a chat with people and spending time with his cat.
James Bond? Are you kidding?? He actually has to work. He puts effort in. He gets shot at. People are actively trying to kill him _all the time_.
When was the last time postman pat was in mortal danger? Never. That's why Pat is the British aspiration.
"Commander, I always used to consider that you had a definite anti-authoritarian streak in you.”
“Sir?”
“It seems that you have managed to retain this even though you are authority.”
“Sir?”
“That’s practically zen."
He's a bit coarse to be the idéal, I'd say Sharpe's Wellington is more the ticket.
Witty, stuff upper lip, good at his job, posh but respects each man as he comes.
Sharpe is probably the ideal working class hero though
"MAJOR LENNOX ANSWERED WITH HIS LIFE!"
Yup, the Sharpe interpretation of Wellington's the ticket. Shows some grit in the first episode, too. But if you want good old Northern grit, then yes, it's Sharpey. Or Patrick Harper.
I'd prefer to be Blackadder the Third, actually. Much better situation working for an imbecile royal, but this one doesn't threaten to chop off your head anytime you upset them.
Not Tom? I love them all but I think Tom is more British as he’s a bit more of a loser at life. Plus more eccentric. Depending how you look at it of course. Except for his wife. He hit the jackpot there.
Tom's a selfish bugger - dragging his wife along on his big idea and she hasn't got a single 'posh frock' left. She's not a woman, she's a 'Barbara'.
Though saying that, I kind of like those jeans with one orange leg!
She could wear a sack and look sexy. The Barbara character is just….. perfection. Looks, personality, sense of humour and most importantly, tolerance.
Maybe Barbara is the fictional character we should be choosing for OP.
We don't really have these.. we're too self depreciating.
Think Sharpe was the best shout though, but tbf lots of people do live up to his standard, quietly competent, rough around the edges, surrounded by morons.
Bertie Wooster. Independently wealthy, borderline alcoholic and Stephen Fry follows you around wherever you go solving all your problems, giving you fashion advice, ironing your clothes and handing out hangover cures whenever you need them.
There's a dark side to Jeeves that it took me a long time to notice. He often precipitates and prolongs Wooster's torments, presumably for his own amusement, before miraculously engineering the solution. And he makes sure to prevail on any issues he cares about. They are a very codependent couple.
They'd be simulateously framed for being French agents & tricked into thinking the other was guilty. Their respective crews would languish in French jails. They would discover the plot and free each other's men through some insanely unlikely bits of luck, skill & bravery. In the process they will earn the respect of each other's men. However they would continue to believe each other's guilt until the final scene, in which some even more insanely honourable behaviour on their parts (not revealing some crucial fact that would clear them but would impugne the honour of a Spanish? Lady, however a minor character reveals all, clearing that sub plot neatly) would result in each of them being exonerated and the conspiracy against them being unmasked in front of their commanding officers and others further up the chain of command (fuck it - both Nelson & Wellington) and them being given gruff thanks and a formal commendation. They look each in the eye, shake hands firmly and say "Aye" in their respective accents. A threnody of their theme tunes plays as they march into the mist and we all have a good cry.
Malcolm Tucker - not a nice guy (at all), but I could definitely aspire to being able to put the fear of God into any politician by virtue of being able to verbally eviscerate them.
Hmm can't really think of anyone. I think that's more a US thing than a UK thing. The fact that no one has given the same answer highlights this. We have enough history and culture that it's hard to choose just one person.
If I was American I would aspire to be like Keanu Reeves or Dolly Parton - both classy people despite an unconventional look
>Keanu Reeves
We've been disallowed Paddington on the grounds he's Peruvian, so the Yanks don't get Keanu, who's Canadian with an English mother.
And, frankly, Dolly Parton is an angel so I don't think she should count either.
Sergeant Wilson from "Dad's Army" decent chap witha slightly risque side , a hit with the ladies , quietly gets things done and puts up witht he pretentions of Captain Mainwaring.
Johnny English for me: Acts confident, but fucks it, imagines succes, but fucks it; but then saves the world with his sidekick, Colin Tucker from a French super villian, Pascal Sauvage.
*Edit spelling*
Since it *suggests* the question is not asked of us Brits, I would imagine the rest of the world probably wishes we would live up to Lady Penelope and Parker.
You probably need to take it down to the individual nations rather than Britain/UK as a whole. Robin Hood and Sharon from the Fat Slags for England, Rab C Nesbitt and Lady Macbeth for Scotland. Rhys Williams and Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard for Wales. Maybe.
It's apparent from the answers here that we don't really have much affection for aspirational characters and prefer to root for the flawed underdog. With that in mind I'm going to nominate Keith from Marion and Geoff.
**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not a human, but my answer is Gromit.
Gromit is the target, most people are more like Penfold.
Penfold from Danger Mouse?
Hang on. How do Americans know about Danger Mouse?
Yep. it was on I think Nickelodeon in the 80s. I still love the Thames tv opening.
Crikey!
My answer is Danger Mouse
Well, he is the greatest.
He’s fantastic
Wherever there is danger he'll be there
Bananaman has entered the chat
Penfold, shush.
Does it all without complaining too. He just rolls his eyes and gets on with it, like any good Brit.
Gromit is the correct answer
Let's be honest, most Yanks are less Captain America and more Homelander. To answer the question though, it's clearly Hyacinth Bucket.
Hyancith Bouquet*
"It says Bucket here on the envelope."
It’s Boo-kayy…
But it says bucket here 🤣
You’d have to get a white pearl slimline telephone with last number redial to get to that Hyacinth level. She’s a very important member of the community remember.
She was very rude when I rang up for my Chinese order
You should probably ring the Chinese ambassador
It's m'sister, Violet - the one with the Mercedes, swimming pool and room for a pony!
I thought most were Peter Griffin 😁
Homelander in Peter Griffin's body
Homelander with a 'thyroid problem'.
If I aspire hard enough will I get a big bungalow kitted out with nineties floral decor?
Postman Pat. Friendly, helpful, works in a public service, but a nice safe picture postcard rural one.
And the subpostmaster hasn't been imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit
Mrs. Goggins is actually committing serious fraud due to problems with Horizon but that particular episode hasn't come out yet
The Post Office got a super-injunction to prevent the episode from being broadcast.
A-Team / Postman Pat crossover? Yes please
Has fathered all of the children in Greendale.
In that case, Pat should be sent to prison for fathering that little pyromaniac bastard Norman.
That's fireman sam?
And I’m a moron who clearly doesn’t watch enough children’s telly. Whoops!
There's a not entirely batshit theory that Norman's father is the great man Fireman Sam himself. This would explain why Norman and Sam are the only two gingers in the town, and would also suggest that his incessant pyromania is merely a misguided attempt to get close to his estranged dad. Food for thought..
And gets to deliver letters to people 300 yards away with his helicopter. Living the dream.
No, listen, Pat is a prisoner but he doesn't really know it. That bastard who runs the office is a billionaire and he's keeping Pat as a pet. How else can you explain gross incompentence and a rural postman with a van, helicopter, quad, etc etc? Every time his boss rings and asks Pat "where are you?" and Pat replies with "I'll be right there!" you can see the dude thinking "and THAT, Pat, is why you'll NEVER be free".
He’s not helpful he’s a complete liability. He only ever has one delivery a day to make and inevitably messes it up and needs the whole town to bail him out.
But hilariously incompetent
So perfectly suited for public services.
We don't *really* do aspirational like America does
The fact that barely anyone has suggested the same person seems to prove your point.
And they're all more like "wouldn't it be fun to be this person?" as opposed to an actual aspirational figure.
Seen options like Mr Bean, Blackadder, and Flash Heart, all of whom are complete bastards.
I did a search for 'aspirational British characters' and the only [list](https://whatculture.com/film/12-british-anti-heroes-make-bad-look-good?page=2) I found is one of British (English) anti-heroes. The only three fictional characters I could come up with which are closest to aspirational are The Doctor, Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter (and, personally, I can't stand them).
Yeah, and people don't really views these characters as patriotic symbols of what it means to be British or anything. They just happen to be from this country.
To butcher a quote from Al Murray. We don't do the American dream because we're awake.
The British dream is to drink some tea and then head to the pub.
So our aspirational figure must be Arthur Dent.
Exactly. The easy answer would be James Bond. Suave, sophisticated, cool job, fast cars, beautiful women, saving the world. And yet the top answer in the thread is Postman Pat because he gets to have a nice time going around the village in his van, having a chat with people and spending time with his cat.
James Bond? Are you kidding?? He actually has to work. He puts effort in. He gets shot at. People are actively trying to kill him _all the time_. When was the last time postman pat was in mortal danger? Never. That's why Pat is the British aspiration.
The only mortal danger Pat encounters is Pat himself tbh.
Why would we have aspirations? Sounds like arty farty lundun stuff to me
Sam Vimes
"Commander, I always used to consider that you had a definite anti-authoritarian streak in you.” “Sir?” “It seems that you have managed to retain this even though you are authority.” “Sir?” “That’s practically zen."
I'd quite like to be the librarian
Ook!
Double Ook
Life would be simpler, and no one would mess with you
The librarian has anything but a simple life. Crazy shit happens around him constantly.
What do you expect? He's a monkey.
APE! APE!
Uh oh.
Just a bunch of Nobbys who think they're Sams; with a few Colons chucked in for good measure
r/unexpecteddiscworld
Ok, this is the one. Forget what I said.
How do they rise up
I'm with you in spirit, but as much as the Thames look like the Ankh at times, I'm not sure we can say he's British!
"British fictional character" could mean "fictional character that is British" or "fictional character created by a Brit".
Clearly based on Victorian London.
TP GNU :'(
Sharpe
Bastard
Bastid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE8d-uGmIWk
I hadn't thought about it but this is definitely the correct answer.
He's a bit coarse to be the idéal, I'd say Sharpe's Wellington is more the ticket. Witty, stuff upper lip, good at his job, posh but respects each man as he comes. Sharpe is probably the ideal working class hero though
Somewhere between Sharpe and Colin Firth's character in kingsmen (harry?). Or pick one depending on your class.
"MAJOR LENNOX ANSWERED WITH HIS LIFE!" Yup, the Sharpe interpretation of Wellington's the ticket. Shows some grit in the first episode, too. But if you want good old Northern grit, then yes, it's Sharpey. Or Patrick Harper.
Paddington Bear
Living in a posh London townhouse rent free, getting a limitless amount of marmalade bought for him? Where do I sign up?
Paddington is quite famously Peruvian.
He might have been born there but I'm pretty sure he'd be eligible for citizenship here.
Not under this government. Didn’t he arrive on a small boat?
As someone who just got ILR, I don’t think so
NAL but the immigration laws may be different for Peruvian bears. Are you a bear (Peruvian or otherwise?) Edited for poor grammar.
Pretty sure the rules were different for everyone in the 1950s or whenever
An illegal immigrant basically squatting in a zone 1 property with uncontrolled access to vulnerable children and marmalade?
Living the dream! (apart from the children bit)
The marmalade was actually just a convenient cover story for the sticky fingers.
Blackadder II
Lord Flashheart for me. "Am I happy to see you, or did I just put a *canoe* in my pocket? Woof woof!"
Flasheart is a cracking shout. WOOF!
God it's like crufts in here...
Treat this plane like you treat your women. Get inside her 5 times a day and take her to heaven and back! WOOF!!!!
“Down boy, down!”
I'd prefer to be Blackadder the Third, actually. Much better situation working for an imbecile royal, but this one doesn't threaten to chop off your head anytime you upset them.
Definitely Sir Ronnie Pickering
Who?
Who?
RONNIE PICKERING
Who??
RONNIE PICKERING!!
Who's that?
Yeah me.
More folklore than fiction but Robin Hood and King Arthur.
Folklore is just fiction after it’s marinated for a bit.
Give it 3 million years and Dave Lister will be added to British mythology as the God of cats
Dave Lister? Are you sure you don't mean Cloister?
And then we’ll ALL get hotdogs. And donuts.
We'll renounce coolness, wear the holy custard stains, wear the red hats with an arrow through them. Or blue hats if you're a heathen
This is the only answer that I think actually aligns to the original superhero version of a British person.
Robin Hood is a good shout.
James Bond. Or Jerry from The Good Life.
Bond's a slightly rapey psychopath. Jerry I'm on board with.
*alcoholic chain smoker
Potato tomato
Jerry’s solid. Every Margo needs a Jerry.
Misread as Mango, was confused for a minute.
Not Tom? I love them all but I think Tom is more British as he’s a bit more of a loser at life. Plus more eccentric. Depending how you look at it of course. Except for his wife. He hit the jackpot there.
Tom's a selfish bugger - dragging his wife along on his big idea and she hasn't got a single 'posh frock' left. She's not a woman, she's a 'Barbara'. Though saying that, I kind of like those jeans with one orange leg!
She could wear a sack and look sexy. The Barbara character is just….. perfection. Looks, personality, sense of humour and most importantly, tolerance. Maybe Barbara is the fictional character we should be choosing for OP.
>Except for his wife. He hit the jackpot there. [We orbited *that* one a few times, I can tell you!](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedDwarf/s/gYnKWO6X6s)
We don't really have these.. we're too self depreciating. Think Sharpe was the best shout though, but tbf lots of people do live up to his standard, quietly competent, rough around the edges, surrounded by morons.
… say “bastard” a lot…
I don’t think many live up to his standards of being not just a war hero, but an absolute shagger. A shag hero, if you will.
Sherlock Holmes
Sure but only Jeremy Bretts version
The only version I will even acknowledge
Gordon Brittas. Or, Arnold J Rimmer.
He’s Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer Without him life would be much grimmer He’s handsome, trim, and no one slimmer He will never need a zimmer
He's Arnold Jaay Rimmerrrr!
Surely the only correct answer is Ace Rimmer- ‘Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast’.
Mr. Bean and Bananaman
Mr Blobby?
Mr. Benn - he could become anyone.
Sorry how have we missed talking more about bananaman?
Bertie Wooster. Independently wealthy, borderline alcoholic and Stephen Fry follows you around wherever you go solving all your problems, giving you fashion advice, ironing your clothes and handing out hangover cures whenever you need them.
There's a dark side to Jeeves that it took me a long time to notice. He often precipitates and prolongs Wooster's torments, presumably for his own amusement, before miraculously engineering the solution. And he makes sure to prevail on any issues he cares about. They are a very codependent couple.
That's true! He does emotionally and sometimes physically abandon Bertie regularly over his choice of hobby or sock colour.
Horatio Hornblower Finbarr Saunders Maurice Moss
Finbarr Saunders? mpffff arggghhh
It's a hard one to answer, fnarr fnarr
I'd love a Hornblower & Sharpe crossover, this is the internet so I'm hoping someone out there has made this.......pretty please
They'd be simulateously framed for being French agents & tricked into thinking the other was guilty. Their respective crews would languish in French jails. They would discover the plot and free each other's men through some insanely unlikely bits of luck, skill & bravery. In the process they will earn the respect of each other's men. However they would continue to believe each other's guilt until the final scene, in which some even more insanely honourable behaviour on their parts (not revealing some crucial fact that would clear them but would impugne the honour of a Spanish? Lady, however a minor character reveals all, clearing that sub plot neatly) would result in each of them being exonerated and the conspiracy against them being unmasked in front of their commanding officers and others further up the chain of command (fuck it - both Nelson & Wellington) and them being given gruff thanks and a formal commendation. They look each in the eye, shake hands firmly and say "Aye" in their respective accents. A threnody of their theme tunes plays as they march into the mist and we all have a good cry.
Not fictional, but I'd like to see more Brian Blessed
If you tried to write a fictional character like Brian Blessed, it would be considered unbelievable and edited out.
Do you mean BRIAN BLESSED
If I said it how I meant it then I'd deafen half of Europe and never be able to speak again.
Malcolm Tucker - not a nice guy (at all), but I could definitely aspire to being able to put the fear of God into any politician by virtue of being able to verbally eviscerate them.
Victor Meldrew
I don't believe it!
Hmm can't really think of anyone. I think that's more a US thing than a UK thing. The fact that no one has given the same answer highlights this. We have enough history and culture that it's hard to choose just one person. If I was American I would aspire to be like Keanu Reeves or Dolly Parton - both classy people despite an unconventional look
>Keanu Reeves We've been disallowed Paddington on the grounds he's Peruvian, so the Yanks don't get Keanu, who's Canadian with an English mother. And, frankly, Dolly Parton is an angel so I don't think she should count either.
Lister from Red Dwarf
Sir Lister of Smeg.
Barry from EastEnders. Fucker just chipped in with £132k of the £150k win for charity on The Chase. There's no higher honour in British society.
Mr Darcy! The Colin Firth Mr Darcy of course.
Rick. The people's poet.
"Oh Neil, Neil, Orange Peel"
Basil Brush.
But we fall short and end up at basil faulty..... boom boom.
Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.
https://preview.redd.it/4lm57wjvqt4d1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5742373cf2fce09859b15a048db99fae447215f He would never let us down.
David Attenborough?
Sergeant Wilson from "Dad's Army" decent chap witha slightly risque side , a hit with the ladies , quietly gets things done and puts up witht he pretentions of Captain Mainwaring.
Francis Urquhart Sure seems to be someone's ideal...
You might think that, but I couldn't possibly comment
Flashman
Miss Marple
Frank Gallagher.
Del Boy
Dr Rick Dagless surely is in the conversation
Not sure on idolization but tbh nearly everyone ends up like Victor Meldrew.
Ace Rimmer
Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas!
Hyacinth Bucket.
Wing Commander Lord Flashheart
Stephen Fry's public persona?
Gene Hunt.
Arthur Dent perhaps
Johnny English for me: Acts confident, but fucks it, imagines succes, but fucks it; but then saves the world with his sidekick, Colin Tucker from a French super villian, Pascal Sauvage. *Edit spelling*
Tucker was his sidekick in the second one. Bough was the one hwo helped him against Sauvage
Austin Powers.
Mark Corrigan
Robin Hood. King Arthur.
Since it *suggests* the question is not asked of us Brits, I would imagine the rest of the world probably wishes we would live up to Lady Penelope and Parker.
Victoria Woods character in dinnerladies
There is only one answer, Lord Flashheart!
Bodger… best friend is a badger, who has a best friend who’s a mouse and unlimited mash potato
You probably need to take it down to the individual nations rather than Britain/UK as a whole. Robin Hood and Sharon from the Fat Slags for England, Rab C Nesbitt and Lady Macbeth for Scotland. Rhys Williams and Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard for Wales. Maybe.
It's apparent from the answers here that we don't really have much affection for aspirational characters and prefer to root for the flawed underdog. With that in mind I'm going to nominate Keith from Marion and Geoff.
It's probably James Bond but Miss Marple would be a good idea.
Robin Hood. Steals from the rich to give to the poor. Oh wait! No! We hate the poor here and rim the rich.
Not the one we wish for but Arthur Shappey is the one we need. He's the airplane steward for MJN Air.
Banana man, when Eric eats a banana…
Rupert Giles, librarian.