The English painter J. M. W. Turner will be the face of the new £20 note when it's released to the British public in 2020. But while it's nice to celebrate the life of the man who died in 1851, it seems as though people in the UK want someone more modern.
Sir David Attenborough is largely considered to be Britain's granddad. Many grew up with his iconic voice as he took us on a journey across the world, from ice capped mountains, to vibrant green jungles and desolate deserts.
So there's no surprise that the 91-year-old has topped the list on a survey asking Brits who they would prefer to have on their £20 note. His soothing voice is pretty decent, but imagine pulling out a cheeky Attenborough to pay for a few pints?
Sir David and the Queen already look great together - so why can't they be on the £20 note? Credit: PA
The documentary filmmaker won 40 percent of the vote, with Prince Charles coming in second with just seven percent of the vote. People who took the survey were given a list of 15 'ethical champions', including J. K. Rowling, Richard Branson and Jamie Oliver.
An online petition has been set up to help grab the attention of the government to knock Turner off the £20 note and have Attenborough's mug plastered all over it. Campaign creator Rich Grundy says: "With his tireless conservation work, he would act as a constant reminder to the public to make 'ethical' money choices every single day.
"It is, surely, our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth."
The Bank of England's plan for the J. M. W. Turner note isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination.
Credit: Bank of England
But can you image what an Attenborough note would look like?
You could have any number of exotic animals in even more exotic locations. You could even issue different kinds of Attenborough £20 notes and theme them on Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and Planet Earth.
J. M. W. Turner was chosen because his oil painting The Fighting Temeraire was deemed the nation's favourite. The Bank of England's Mark Carney said: "Turner is perhaps the single most influential British artist of all time. His work was transformative for the art world. His influence spanned his lifetime and well beyond."
Um, Attenborough's work is timeless, revered, legendary, captivating, interesting and should be immortalised on the £20 note. Maybe he can be nominated for the £50 if it gets updated to plastic.
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Sources: 38 Degrees, Cambridge News
Topics: Bank of England, david attenborough, The Queen