The 100 Greatest Britons

Read the information about the television programme.

100 Greatest Britons was a series made in 2002 by the BBC. Firstly, a
poll was conducted to determine who the United Kingdom public
considered to be the 100 greatest British people in history. Some
interesting facts from the results were that all of the top ten were
deceased by the time of broadcast, and the highest-ranked living person
was former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was 16th. Next, ten
hour-long programmes were made, in each of which a different
celebrity argued in favour of one candidate. Viewers had the chance to
vote after each programme. The series finished with a final programme
including a debate and the announcement of the winner.

Answer the questions.

1. What was the purpose of the programme?
2. How was the result decided?
3. How many of the top 10 were still alive in 2002?
4. What is the difference between famous, popular and
great?
5. Which people do you think might have been in the top ten?

Listen to an extract nominating a Great Briton.

Who is the Briton being discussed? What reasons are given for their
nomination?
Listen again. Complete the extracts.
__ __ _____, she has become more than this, a symbol to the British
public of duty, of dignity, of a time when Britain truly was great.
___ _______ ___ ____ __her leadership through many problems
such as the Second World War, the Falklands War, numerous
problems with her family and so on.
___ ___ _______ ____most people in their eighties are enjoying their
retirement

Match each phrase below to the reason you might use it.
To give your To support your To give general To present
opinion opinion public opinion fact
Its undeniable/ It cant be denied that. Its often said/thought/suggested that
Personally, I think/believe/feel Its a fact that
This is because If you ask me
I honestly think/believe/feel One example of/reason for this is
In my opinion/view Id say that
Many people believe/say/think/suggest We know for sure/certain that
The way I look at it/see it The reason I say/think/believe that is
It appears/seems to me that

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 The 100 Greatest Britons

Choose the most appropriate phrase for each sentence.

1. Its a fact that / In my opinion David Beckham is the greatest Briton ever to have lived. The
first reason I believe this / Many people believe that is his huge popularity across the world.
Even apart from his footballing salary, he earns millions of pounds every year from
merchandising. Its undeniable / If you ask me for example that he is one of the highest
earning British sportsmen.
2. The famous nurse Florence Nightingale is in my opinion/the way I look at it deserving of the
title The Greatest Briton. I honestly believe that / We know for certain that she saved many
lives during the Boer War but the reason I say that is / it seems to me / this is because her
ideas continue to help people even today. Its a fact that / One example of this is her
insistence on cleanliness in her hospital.
Use the phrases from task 3 to make three sentences suggesting why JK Rowling, author of
Harry Potter, or Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the internet should be considered for the title.

You are going to prepare a short presentation.

Each pair will be given some information about one
of the top five Greatest Britons. You have twenty
minutes to prepare a 2-3 minute presentation about that
person to persuade the group to vote them Greatest Briton.
Both of you must speak during the presentation.
You can only use notes with prompts (one or two words)
Include some of the language introduced today and give
your opinion why this person should be considered, not
just a list of facts.
Tell the group why your person should be Greatest Briton
What did they do? How did they affect other people?
Do their actions still affect peoples lives today? How?
What were the persons positive characteristics?

Give your presentation. Whilst listening to the others, mark each famous person.
Actions (/10) What did they Legacy (/10) Do their actions Character (/10) What kind
Candidate
contribute to the world? still affect people now? of person were they?

Discuss with your partner

If there was a Greatest Pole vote, who do you think might finish in the top 5?

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 The 100 Greatest Britons

Level: Class Size: Age: Time:

First Certificate 7-8 14-25 1 hours (with break)
Main Aim: Assumptions: Possible Problems
To practice presenting opinion and Students have heard of featured Students lack knowledge of
fact in spoken form famous people celebrities - sources given
Syllabus Links: Syllabus Fit: Cultural Links:
Talents (FCE Masterclass Unit 3) Next lesson writing articles based British History / British
Inspiration (FCE Result Unit 4) on The Greatest Pole Television
Materials Needed:
Student worksheets, Source information on famous people, Dictionaries
Timing: Procedure: Sub-Aims:
00:00- Inform students they are going to read about British television To introduce context of
02:00 programme. Ask them to read the piece in Task 1. lesson
02:00- Ask students to answer questions based on the text. Check To check understanding of
05:00 centrally. context
05:00- Tell students you are going to read them an extract nominating a Link context to language
07:30 Great Briton. During the first reading they should do Task 3(a). input
05:00- Read them the extract again. This time they should complete the Introduce target language
10:00 missing words from the reading (Task 3b) categories. Modal useage.
10:00- Ask students to work in pairs to decide why each phrase in Task 4
Introduce target language
15:00 might be used.
Students should choose the correct phrase from the options given
Check understanding of
15:00- to complete the sentences (Task 5).
useage for each phrase
25:00 Once they have done this they will prepare a few sentences using
Controlled, limited practice
the target language and read them to their partner.
Divide students into pairs and give each pair one of the top 5
Briton (Brunel is probably not well known enough for this so use
Churchill, Diana, Shakespeare and Darwin). Give them the source
material and give them 20 minutes to prepare. They should not
25:00- just prepare a list of facts but a presentation of opinions based on Preparation for
50:00 facts. Only prompt notes will be allowed during the presentations. presentation
Monitor them while they are working. As it is the framing
language rather than the substantive content which is being
targeted here, it is fine for you to give them the basic ideas. They
may need help extracting information from the source material.
Break
The groups will then deliver their presentations. Students must
60:00-
listen and mark each nominee (not presentation) on character, Free practice
75:00
legacy left behind and their effect on other people (Task 7)
Feedback and announcement of winner of Greatest Briton.
75:00-
Compare the result with the real life competition (full 100 Conclusion to activity
77:00
included in teachers notes).
Ask pairs to decide if there were to be a similar programme in
77:00- Poland, which people they think should/would make the top five? Extension and set-up for
85:00 Discuss this as a class. Make a top of the selected personalities as next lesson
Materials for Teacher
this will form part of the writing articles lesson next week.

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 The 100 Greatest Britons

Listening Extract for Task 3

My nomination for Greatest Briton is a woman who has already ensured her place in British history as the
longest serving monarch. In my opinion, she has become more than this, a symbol to the British public of
duty, of dignity and of a time when Britain truly was great. One reason for this is her leadership through
many problems such as the Second World War, the Falklands War, numerous problems with her family and
so on. It is undeniable that most people in their eighties are enjoying their retirement and yet Queen
Elizabeth II still greets her public with a cheerful smile and a wave during her almost daily work.
The Full Top 100
1. Sir Winston Churchill, (1874-1965), PM (1940-45, 5155)
2. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, (18061859), engineer, creator
of Great Western Railway and other works
3. Diana, Princess of Wales (19611997), first wife of Charles,
Prince of Wales. Mother of Princes William/Harry
4. Charles Darwin (18091882), naturalist
5. William Shakespeare (15641616) poet and playwright,
6. Sir Isaac Newton (16431727), physicist, mathematician,
astronomer, natural philosopher, and alchemist
7. Queen Elizabeth I of England
8. John Lennon (19401980), musician with The Beatles,
philanthropist, peace activist, artist
9. Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, (17581805), naval commander
10. Oliver Cromwell (15991658), Lord Protector
11. Sir Ernest Shackleton (18741922), polar explorer
12. Captain James Cook (17281779), explorer
13. Robert Baden-Powell(18571941), founder- Scouts/Guides
14. Alfred the Great (849?899), King of Wessex 871899
15. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (17691852),
military commander, statesman, PM 18281830/1834
16. Baroness Margaret Thatcher (born 1925), PM 19791990
17. Michael Crawford (born 1942), actor and singer
18. Queen Victoria (18191901), monarch 18371901
19. Sir Paul McCartney (1942), musician, philanthropist, activist
20. Sir Alexander Fleming (18811955), biologist and
pharmacologist, discoverer of penicillin
21. Alan Turing (19121954), pioneer of computing
22. Michael Faraday (17911867), scientist
23. Owain Glyndr (13591416), Prince of Wales
24. Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926), reigning monarch (1952)
25. Prof. Stephen Hawking (born 1942), theoretical physicist
26. William Tyndale (14941536), translator of the Bible
27. Emmeline Pankhurst (18581928), suffragette
28. William Wilberforce (17591833), humanitarian
29. David Bowie (born 1947), musician
30. Guy Fawkes (15701606), English revolutionary.
31. Baron Leonard Cheshire (191792), aviator, charity organiser
32. Eric Morecambe (19261984), comedian
33. David Beckham (born 1975), footballer
34. Thomas Paine (17371809), political philosopher
35. Boudica (died c.60), leader of Celts against Roman Empire
36. Sir Steve Redgrave (born 1962), Olympic rower
37. Saint Thomas More (14781535), saint, lawyer, politician
38. William Blake (17571827), author/poet, painter, printer
39. John Harrison (16931776), clock designer
40. King Henry VIII (14911547), monarch 15091547
41. Charles Dickens (18121870), author
42. Sir Frank Whittle (19071996), jet engine inventor
43. John Peel (19392004), broadcaster
44. John Logie Baird (18881946), television pioneer
45. Aneurin Bevan (18971960), politician, founder of NHS
46. Boy George (born 1961), musician with Culture Club
47. Sir Douglas Bader (19101982), aviator, charity campaigner
48. Sir William Wallace (c.12701305), Guardian of Scotland
49. Sir Francis Drake (c.15401596), English naval commander
50. John Wesley (17031791), founder of Methodism
51. King Arthur, legendary Celtic monarch
52. Florence Nightingale (18201910), nurse/charity worker
53. T. E. Lawrence of Arabia (18881935), Arabist, soldier
54. Robert Falcon Scott (18681912), polar explorer
55. Enoch Powell (19121998), politician
56. Sir Cliff Richard (born 1940), musician
57. Alexander Graham Bell (18471922), telephone pioneer
58. Freddie Mercury (19461991), musician with Queen
59. Dame Julie Andrews (born 1935), actress and singer
60. Sir Edward Elgar (18571934), composer
61. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (19002002), Queen consort
62. George Harrison (19432001), musician with The Beatles
63. Sir David Attenborough (born 1926), broadcaster
64. James Connolly (18681916), leader of Irish 1916 rising
65. George Stephenson (17811848), railway pioneer
66. Sir Charlie Chaplin (18891977), comic actor/film director
67. Tony Blair (born 1953), Prime Minister (19972007)
68. William Caxton (c.1415~1422c.1492), English printer
69. Bobby Moore (19411993), footballer
70. Jane Austen (17751817), author
71. William Booth (18291912), founder of Salvation Army
72. King Henry V (13871422), monarch 14131422
73. Aleister Crowley (18751947), occultist, writer, social
provocateur
74. Robert the Bruce (12741329), King of Scots
75. Bob Geldof (born 1951), Irish musician, philanthropist
76. The Unknown Warrior, soldier of the Great War
77. Robbie Williams (born 1974), musician, Take That
78. Edward Jenner (17491823), pioneer of vaccination
79. David Lloyd George (18631945), PM (19161922)
80. Charles Babbage (17911871), mathematician, computing
pioneer
81. Geoffrey Chaucer (c.13431400), English author
82. King Richard III (14521485), monarch 14831485
83. J.K. Rowling (born 1965), author
84. James Watt (17361819), developer of the steam engine
85. Sir Richard Branson (1950), businessman and adventurer
86. Bono (born 1960), Irish musician with U2, philanthropist
87. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) (born 1956), musician
88. Bernard Law Montgomery(18871976), military commander
89. Donald Campbell (192167), water speed record challenger
90. King Henry II (11331189), monarch 11541189
91. James Clerk Maxwell (18311879), physicist
92. J.R.R. Tolkien (18921973), author and philologist
93. Sir Walter Raleigh (15521618), English explorer
94. King Edward I (12391307), monarch 12721307
95. Sir Barnes Wallis (18871979), aviation pioneer
96. Richard Burton (19251984), actor
97. Tony Benn (born 1925), politician
98. David Livingstone (18131873), missionary and explorer
99. Sir Tim Berners-Lee (born 1955), inventor of the www
100. Marie Stopes (18801958), promoter of birth control

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 100 Greatest Britons

Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (30 November 1874 24
January 1965) was an English politician, who was Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom during and after World War II. He is the only person
to have been a member of the British Government during both world
wars, and the last non-royal to be given a State funeral. Many people
say that he was the greatest British leader of the twentieth century. He
was also a soldier, journalist, and author. He won the Nobel Prize for
literature in 1953. He is the only British Prime Minister to have
received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
He joined the British Army in 1893. He fought in wars in Pakistan and the Sudan, before going to the
Boer War in South Africa in 1899 as a newspaper reporter. He was captured by the Boers, but
escaped. In 1900 he became a politician in the Conservative Party, and was elected to Parliament.
In 1910 Churchill became Home Secretary, one of the most important members of the government.
Just before World War I, he was put in charge of the Royal Navy. During the war he organized an
invasion in Gallipoli which went wrong, and because of this, he was made to leave the government.
He joined the army and was sent to fight in France, although he was still a Member of Parliament.
From 1917, Churchill had many different jobs in the government including Secretary of State for
War, Secretary of State for Air and Chancellor (Finance Minister). After 1929, Churchill disagreed
with many things the Conservative party believed in and no longer had any job in the government.
Instead he wrote books. When Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany, Churchill warned that Britain
should strengthen its military and oppose Hitler. However, very few leaders agreed with him.
At the start of World War II, Churchill was again put in charge of the Navy. In 1940 the war was going
badly for Britain, and the Prime Minister resigned. Churchill was given the job. Some people thought
that Britain could not win the war, and that the government should make peace with Hitler. Churchill
was sure that Britain could win, and promised to continue the fight. He made famous speeches that
are still remembered today, motivating the British public to keep fighting and never surrender
In 1945, his Conservative party lost an election, and he stopped being Prime Minister. However, he
became Prime Minister again in 1951, which he was until 1955. In 1953, he was knighted Sir
Winston, and also won the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1955, he retired from being Prime Minister.
In 1964, he retired from Parliament. In 1965, he died at the age of 90 with his wife Lady Clementine
Churchill and other members of the family at his bedside.
(c) Wikipedia, 2011

Soldier, politician and finally prime minister, Winston Churchill was one of Britain's greatest 20th-
century heroes. He is particularly remembered for his indomitable spirit while leading Great Britain
to victory in World War II. Churchill fought with the British Army in India and Sudan, and as a
journalist was captured in South Africa. He became a member of Parliament in 1900 and remained
an MP for over 64 years. His political career earned him many enemies, but his stirring speeches,
tenacity and refusal to make peace with Adolf Hitler made him the popular choice to lead England
through World War II. When Britain and its allies won in 1945, Churchill's place in history was
assured. Churchill had a quick wit, with many famous quotes attributed to him. He also wrote many
history books, biographies and memoirs. In 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and
he was knighted the same year. (c) http://www.answers.com/topic/winston-churchill-political-leader-writer

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 100 Greatest Britons

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales, (1 July 1961 31 August 1997) was the first
wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Their sons, Princes William and Harry[1],
are second and third in line to the throne of the United Kingdom. Diana
was hugely popular with both the British public and worldwide media,
right from the time of the announcement of her engagement to Prince
Charles until her death in a car crash in Paris, France. Her death was
followed by a long show of public mourning in Britain.

Moving on quickly from her pre-marriage job as a nursery nurse, Diana became famous not just in
Britain but all over the world for her sense of compassion, fashionable style and high-profile charity
work, as well as her difficult marriage to Prince Charles. During her lifetime, she was often described
as the world's most photographed woman. One biographer suggested that Diana was possibly
suffering from borderline personality disorder. Diana admitted to struggling with depression, and
the eating disorder bulimia, which recurred throughout her adult life.

Starting in the mid - to late 1980s, the Princess of Wales became increasingly known for her support
of numerous charities. This stemmed naturally from her role as Princess of Walesshe was
expected to visit hospitals and other state agencies in the 20th century model of royal patronage.
Diana, however, developed an interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the
purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy. In addition, the Princess
patronised charities and organisations working with the homeless, youth, drug addicts and the
elderly. From 1989, she was President of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

She became known for breaking the usual social rules surrounding the royal family. Often during her
charity visits to sick children and other people, she would hug them or hold a young child in her
arms. For this reason she became known as the Peoples Princess. Another example of her
stepping outside what was expected of a royal was her support of the International Campaign to
Ban Landmines, visiting minefields with other campaigners, a risk previously thought unthinkable for
a member of the royal family. Of course this gained huge publicity for the campaign, which went on
to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 after her death, which many believed was a posthumous
tribute to the Princess.[19] (c) Wikipedia, 2011

She was a wonderful and warm human being. Though her own life was often sadly touched by
tragedy, she touched the lives of so many others in Britain throughout the world with joy and
with comfort. How many times shall we remember her, in how many different ways, with the sick,
the dying, with children, with the needy, when, with just a look or a gesture that spoke so much
more than words, she would reveal to all of us the depth of her compassion and her humanity. How
difficult things were for her from time to time, surely we can only guess at but the people
everywhere, not just here in Britain but everywhere, they kept faith with Princess Diana, they liked
her, they loved her, they regarded her as one of the people. She was the peoples princess and thats
how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and in our memories forever.

She seemed full of happiness, full of life, she was great fun to be with and she was an unusual but a
really warm character and personality and I will remember her personally with very great affection. I
think the whole country will remember her with the deepest affection and love and that is why our
grief is so deep today. Tony Blair, Prime Minister, 1997, after Dianas death

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 100 Greatest Britons

Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS (12 February 1809 19 April 1882) was an
English naturalist who presented compelling evidence that all species of
life have evolved over time from common ancestors, through the process
he called natural selection.

The fact that evolution occurs became accepted by the scientific

community and much of the general public in his lifetime. The agreement
that natural selection is a basic mechanism of evolution took longer.

At Edinburgh University Darwin neglected medical studies and helped to investigate marine
invertebrates, then the University of Cambridge encouraged a passion for natural science.[7] His five-
year voyage on HMS Beagle established him as an eminent geologist whose publication of his journal
of the voyage made him famous as a popular author.

Puzzled by the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils he collected on the voyage, Darwin
investigated how species changed according to location (transmutation) of species and came up with
his theory of natural selection in 1838. Although he discussed his ideas with several naturalists, he
needed time for extensive research and his geological work was more important. He was writing up
his theory in 1858 when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay which described the same idea,
prompting immediate joint publication of both of their theories.

His 1859 book On the Origin of Species established evolutionary descent with modification as the
dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human evolution and
sexual selection in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, followed by The Expression
of the Emotions in Man and Animals. His research on plants was published in a series of books, and
in his final book, he examined earthworms and their effect on soil.

In recognition of Darwins importance, he was one of only five 19th-century UK non-royal

personages to be honoured by a state funeral, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to John
Herschel and Isaac Newton. His work continues to be the basis for further scientific work even now.

DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809-82), British scientist, who laid the foundation of modern evolutionary
theory with his concept of the development of all forms of life through the slow-working process of
natural selection. His work was a major influence on the life and earth sciences and on modern
thought in general.
http://charles-darwin.classic-literature.co.uk/

Topic: Talents Level: FCE

 100 Greatest Britons

William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 died 23 April 1616) was an English
poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the
English language and the world's most famous dramatist. He is often
called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving
works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and
several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major
living language and are performed more often than those of any other
playwright.

Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne
Hathaway, and they had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and
1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a theatre
company He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. Few
records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about
such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works
attributed to him were written by others.

Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were mainly
comedies and histories. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King
Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he
wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. In
1623, two of his former theatrical colleagues published the First Folio, a collected edition of his
dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's.

Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to
its present heights until the nineteenth century. The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed
Shakespeare's genius, and the Victorians worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George
Bernard Shaw called "bardolatry".In the twentieth century, his work was repeatedly adopted and
rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular
today and are constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political
contexts throughout the world.

Shakespeare's work has made a lasting impression on later theatre and literature. In particular, he
expanded the dramatic potential of characterisation, plot, language, and genre. Until Romeo and
Juliet, for example, romance had not been viewed as a worthy topic for tragedy. In Shakespeare's
day, English grammar and spelling were less standardised than they are now, and his use of language
helped shape modern English. Samuel Johnson quoted him more often than any other author in his
A Dictionary of the English Language, the first serious work of its type. Expressions such as "with
bated breath" (Merchant of Venice) and "a foregone conclusion" (Othello) have found their way into
everyday English speech. (c) Wikipedia, 2011

Topic: Talents Level: FCE