By Grant Bailey
Funnyman Michael Palin has been named the greatest ever Yorkshireman, according to a study.
A poll of 2,000 Brits saw nearly three in 10 select the Monty Python legend as the best export from the northern region.
Second on the list was gruff actor Sean Bean, followed by Sir Patrick Stewart.
Halifax-born Ed Sheeran came fourth with Jeremy Clarkson rounding out the top five.
Dame Judi Dench was chosen by almost half of respondents as the greatest ever Yorkshirewoman, followed by Jess Ennis-Hill and the Brontë sisters.
The study was conducted by the energy supplier npower to celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1st.
Commercial Director at npower and proud Yorkshireman, Andy Wiggans, said: “Yorkshire Day is a reason to celebrate everything brilliant about the UK’s biggest county, and there’s no shortage of legendary Yorkshire folk to pick from with a list like this.
“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?”
When asked to think about Yorkshire, the first thing that springs to mind for Brits is Yorkshire pudding, with one in five saying the Sunday roast staple is the single best thing to have originated from the region.
A further 14 per cent believe the ‘catseye’ reflective road stud is Yorkshire’s greatest export while one in 10 selected the creation of the world’s first commercial steam locomotive, which was built in Holbeck by engineer Matthew Murray in 1812.
It also emerged two thirds of the country have either visited Yorkshire or lived there are some point in their lives, with 34 per cent still to visit.
And a tenth of respondents loved their time there so much they’d consider making the move permanently.
This could be due to the lilting accent, which 45 per cent of Brits say they’re happy to hear.
However, an incredible one in eight Brits admit they’d struggle to locate Yorkshire on a map of the UK.
Researchers also found Yorkshire’s reputation for being careful with money is well-founded, with a tenth of Brits believing people from the county are better at looking after the pennies than those from elsewhere.
And twice as many people think those from Yorkshire are more likely to be careful when it comes to saving energy than anywhere else in the UK.
Andy added: “Whether you’ve been once, twice or lived there for years, it’s great to see how much the area has contributed to society.
“We’ve generated some of the most famous names throughout history – and it’s exciting to wonder who the next will be.”
