Whose Face Should Be On the New £5 Note?

(Image via)

At some point in the near future, Winston Churchill's face is going to be resting against your thigh. Sir Mervyn King, the Bank of England's departing governor, has chosen to make the former Prime Minister and his quote “Blood, toil, tears and sweat” the new face of the fiver, replacing Elizabeth Fry, the famed prison reformer and woman known for being that face on the £5 note. King also has high hopes that people will start calling £5 notes “Winstons”. We’ll see how that pans out.

I thought Churchill was kind of a formulaic pick. Why have him when you could have, I don't know, Charles Bronson maniacally beaming out at you every time you bought a sandwich? I wanted some more suggestions, so I went to ask some people I didn't know who they'd pick to be on the new £5 note.

Marian: I’m trying to think who the most deserving British person. Either Trevor McDonald or Jeremy Kyle, because he’s straight talking. Everybody feels that they can air their dirty laundry to Jeremy Kyle. Trevor McDonald because he’s trustworthy and he’s almost an institution.

Who shouldn’t be on the currency?
Any of the politicians – they shouldn't be on there. They’re not a good representation of the country. At least you could trust all the other people I’ve mentioned. It’s money, so we should have someone trustworthy. It should be somebody that you like.

It should. Thanks, Marian.

Fraser (left) and Matthew.

Fraser: I reckon get Maggie on there.
Matthew: That’s controversial

Who do you think it should be Matthew?
I don’t know. It should be someone British, obviously. Maybe put the Rolling Stones on there.

So you’re not going with Winston?
I guess it has to be a political person. I'm sorry, I have to be realistic – I was just going crazy there for a minute.

I wasn’t going to say anything.
It should be someone with cultural merit, so put on Winston Churchill, yeah. He’s good.

Joe: That’s a bit of a thinker. I like Attenborough.

Why him?
It’s nice to go for a different choice to who's on the money at the moment. He represents Britain in a good way and he’s recognised globally as a leader in what he does. I like the man; he’s a good choice.

Do you think the Queen’s hogging the currency?
No, I’m fine with her, she’s alright.

Andre: How about him? [Points at a random man] I think that’d be a good idea.

Yeah, it’s not a bad suggestion – I’m just not sure what contribution he’s made to Britain.
I’m sure he hasn’t done a lot, but it’s only the £5 note.

Yeah, it’s not the best note, I guess. Is there anyone who shouldn’t be on the currency?
I shouldn’t be on the currency. I don't think I deserve it.

Don't beat yourself up about it.

Sara: The Beatles are cool. We need somebody who's a cool icon. The younger generation have no idea who these people are on our currency. We need somebody more up to date.

Who would you pick as an "up to date" person?
Maybe Will and Kate, or something. Mix it up a bit, you know?

Yep.

Eric (left) and Karin.

Eric: We're not from here! We're from Sweden!

That’s alright.
Karin: I think it should be a woman.

Which woman?
Not Margaret Thatcher.
Eric: Maybe Nicki Minaj. Or I could be on the coin.

Alright, I'll put that in the suggestion box.

Previously - Who Would You Want Your Conjoined Twin to Be?