Beckham 'greatest pop icon of all time'
David Beckham was today named the greatest pop culture icon, beating Hollywood stars, Madonna and Elvis.
The soccer idol triumphed in a poll compiled from thousands of votes by music channel VH1 for a TV special.
Real Madrid star Beckham was ranked 31 places ahead of his wife Victoria, who wins a place in the list by way of her role in the Spice Girls.
He said today: “I am really honoured that I have been voted number 1 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, especially when you look at the incredible list of people in this poll – many of whom I really admire. Thank you to everyone who voted.”
Among those who sing his praises in the show are Fame Academy judge Richard Park who said: “His style, his class and his quality that he exudes wherever he goes means that everybody wants a piece of that boy.”
And Victoria’s former bandmate Emma Bunton said: “I love his style, he’s just so cool.”
Madonna was runner-up in the list, while Elvis Presley was ranked third and The Beatles fourth.
While the top 100 is dominated by chart and screen stars, icons from other fields have a strong showing.
Diana, Princess Of Wales, comes in at fifth place and Martin Luther King is at number 12.
Only Fools And Horses star David Jason sees his character Del Boy ranked higher than Hollywood big shots. Trotter is at number 46, while Robert De Niro managed just 50 and Brad Pitt 52.
Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher proved to be a greater icon for a generation than Tony Blair. She made it to number 65, while Mr Blair was down at 86.
Marilyn Monroe proved to have greater cultural appeal than many contemporary stars. The late actress finished in 11th place, above Kylie Minogue (15), J-Lo (18) and Kate Moss (88).
A panel of celebrities and experts – including presenter June Sarpong, newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy and GQ editor Dylan Jones – drew up a shortlist for VH1 earlier this year.
Then viewers spent two months voting for who they thought were the greatest figures in popular culture.
A two-and-a-half hour countdown of the top 100 is being screened by the station on Saturday at 8pm, presented by actress Anna Friel.
The top 100 greatest pop culture icons of all time, as compiled by music channel VH1:
1. David Beckham
2. Madonna
3. Elvis
4. The Beatles
5. Princess Diana
6. The Simpsons
7. Freddie Mercury
8. ABBA
9. Robbie Williams
10. David Bowie
11. Marilyn Monroe
12. Martin Luther King
13. Kurt Cobain
14. Michael Jackson
15. Kylie
16. Bono
17. Nelson Mandela
18. J-Lo
19. Bob Marley
20. Arnold Schwarzenegger
21. James Bond
22. James Dean
23. Jimi Hendrix
24. Star Wars
25. Britney Spears
26. Al Pacino
27. Friends
28. Bob Dylan
29. Bruce Lee
30. Elton John
31. Audrey Hepburn
32. Spice Girls
33. Debbie Harry
34. Rolling Stones
35. Muhammad Ali
36. JFK
37. Eminem
38. Noel and Liam Gallagher
39. Carry On films
40. Andy Warhol
41. Star Trek
42. Bruce Springsteen
43. Frank Sinatra
44. George Michael
45. Harry Potter
46. Only Fools and Horses/Del Boy
47. The Muppets
48. Che Guevara
49. EastEnders
50. Robert De Niro
51. Jim Morrison
52. Brad Pitt
53. Mickey Mouse
54. Sex Pistols
55. Coronation Street
56. Steven Spielberg
57. Bill Gates
58. Led Zeppelin
59. Stevie Wonder
60. Aretha Franklin
61. Clint Eastwood
62. Steve McQueen
63. John Travolta
64. Richard Branson
65. Margaret Thatcher
66. The Office
67. Charlie Chaplin
68. Prince
69. Lara Croft
70. Manchester United
71. Jack Nicholson
72. Superman
73. Liz Taylor
74. Dolly Parton
75. Alfred Hitchcock
76. Neil Armstrong
77. Oprah Winfrey
78. James Brown
79. Hugh Hefner/Playboy
80. George Best
81. Tom Cruise
82. Peter Sellers
83. Calvin Klein
84. Batman
85. Judy Garland
86. Tony Blair
87. Tom Jones
88. Kate Moss
89. Paul Newman
90. JR Ewing
91. Pele
92. Grace Kelly
93. Pamela Anderson
94. Liz Hurley
95. Run DMC
96. Marvin Gaye
97. Jackie Kennedy
98. Damian Hirst
99. Tiger Woods
100. Naomi Campbell
