Almost a quarter of Britons, on the other hand, think two-time prime minister Winston Churchill is a myth.
Such are the results of a
survey conducted by UKTV Gold in connection with its new television series,
Robin Hood. Questions were posed to 3,000 ordinary Britons to test their historical acumen. "The results provide a fascinating insight into the influence that popular TV, film and fiction has had on the nation's perception of history over the last 50 years," notes the UKTV Gold website.
One gathers that influence has been less than beneficial.
Top 5 fictional characters Britons think are real:
1. King Arthur – 65%
2. Sherlock Holmes – 58%
3. Robin Hood – 51%
4. Eleanor Rigby – 47%
5. Mona Lisa - 35%
Top 5 historical figures Britons think are myths:
1. Richard the Lionheart – 47%
2. Winston Churchill – 23%
3. Florence Nightingale – 23%
4. Bernard Montgomery – 6%
5. Boudica - 5%
