Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry tops list as top choice for celebrity grandparent
MARY Berry is the most popular choice for a celebrity grandparent, research revealed today.
Mary Berry is the most popular choice for a celebrity grandparent
The Great British Bake Off star was closely followed by actresses Helen Mirren and Joanna Lumley in the survey by finance firm Scottish Friendly.
The 81-year-old will be up against Strictly Come Dancing’s outgoing head judge Len Goodman, 72, in the battle to be crowned best TV judge at the National Television Awards in January.
But 16.8 per cent of adults surveyed have already given Berry the crown as the UK’s most popular celebrity choice to be their grandparent.
Oscar winner Mirren, 71, narrowly came second with 16.4 per cent of the vote, and Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley took 13.3 per cent of the vote.
Calum Bennie, savings expert at Scottish Friendly, said: “Mary Berry is quickly becoming a national treasure and her ability to make cakes and to sugar coat her criticisms of would-be bakers on The Great British Bake Off has left her firmly ingrained in the UK’s psyche.
“It seems the prospect of her and her cakes charmed our respondents into naming her the most popular choice as a celebrity grandparent.”
Helen Mirren was just pipped to the post by Mary Berry
Actor Stephen Fry was rated as the most popular grandfather, with 12.7 per cent of the vote.
We want to let grandparents know that they don’t have to save or invest in a Junior ISA
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was the least popular choice for a celebrity grandparent, taking just 3.8 per cent of the vote.
More than 2,000 adults were surveyed in the UK, as Scottish Friendly launched a campaign aimed at grandparents who want to save for their grandchildren.
Research revealed more than half of would leave money behind, with an average gift of £10,225.
Mr Bennie said: “While our survey is obviously tongue-in-cheek there is a serious message behind it.
“We want to let grandparents know that they don’t have to save or invest in a Junior ISA for their grandchildren.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was the least popular choice with just 3.8 per cent of the vote
"A Junior ISA means only parents or guardians can open one before grandparents can contribute, something that at the very best causes delays and frustration.
“It is for that reason Scottish Friendly is letting grandparents know that if they are not already investing in an ISA, they can also invest for their grandchildren in named accounts by using their own ISA allowance thereby by-passing well-meaning, but time-poor, parents while also ensuring the money remains in their own control until their grandchild is of an appropriate age to receive the gift.”
One Direction singer Harry Styles ranked the least likely to be a cool grandparent in the vote
Mary Berry's 5 best moments
People were also asked who they thought would be the “coolest” celebrity grandparent in the future.
Football icon and former England captain David Beckham took the crown with almost a third of the vote.
But boy band singer Harry Styles was voted the least likely to be a cool grandparent.