Digital TV News

Gene Hunt takes top spot in ‘TV stars for PM’ poll

Tuesday 4 May, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

As the general election approaches, Virgin Media reveals that nearly half of Brits would rather see TV’s Ashes to Ashes character Gene Hunt take the Prime Minister’s place in 10 Downing Street over Brown, Cameron or Clegg.

The “TV stars for PM” poll, carried out by Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com), found that straight talking Gene Hunt from TV police drama Ashes to Ashes was the TV character people most wanted to take over from Gordon Brown, with 43% of the 1,290 votes.

Cable TV giant Virgin Media said the poll highlighted the kind of attributes Brits want to see in the next Prime Minister.

Alison Davis, director of online at Virgin Media, said: “There is more indecision in this election than ever. It’s interesting to see the characteristics the public thinks make a good Prime Minster from those TV characters we know so well.”

Other names put forward for the role included The Doctor from Doctor Who, with just under 20% of the vote, The Stig from BBC’s Top Gear, Frank Gallagher from Shameless and Coronation Street’s Norris Cole.

Jon Ingram, operations director at Digitalchoices.co.uk, said: “It’s interesting to see that voters chose a blunt, straight-to-the-point character for their PM. I wonder whether the real general election will have a similar outcome?”

Sky+HD homes will be able to watch all the action from the general election and Decision Time on Thursday night from 9pm in super sharp high-definition, as satellite TV provider Sky launches the UK’s first HD news channel.