Britons are obsessed with celebrity and addicted to junk food and ready meals, a new travel guide said today, shedding a sometimes unflattering light on the country
The Lonely Planet guide noted that more people vote in television talent shows than in elections, saying this was “a symptom of Britain’s ever-growing obsession with fame and celebrity”.
Britons are fascinated with famous people “even though their ‘celebrity’ status is based on little more than the ability to sing a jolly tune, look good in tight trousers or kick a ball in the right direction,” it noted.
Like many foreign observers, the guide noted Britain’s particular problem with alcohol. “Vandalism and nuisance behaviour caused by binge drinking remain serious problems,” it said.
On the food front, the guide asserted that Britons eat more junk food and ready meals than all other European countries put together.
All was not lost in gastronomic terms, however. “Without doubt you can find great food in Britain. It’s just that not all the Brits seem to like eating it,” the book said.
And there are some other good points, including Britain’s multiculturalism, which has tempered some traditional stereotypes.
“Brits are just as likely to tuck into a chicken madras as a Sunday roast, or to check out the Notting Hill Carnival rather than Trooping the Colour,” said co-ordinating author David Else.
“Everyone can find something which suits them,” he said, also hailing how Britons’ exposure “to different religions, festivals, music and food allows Brits to experience so many other cultures without even leaving the country.”
“We need to revel in this diversity as this is the future of Britain,” he said.
By: Lewis-Shockwave - 29th June 2007 at 19:55
Whats wrong with a chicken madras instead of a sunday roast?
Because I’m british I have to eat a Sunday Roast every Sunday?
Oh sorry ill just get my copy of the ‘Times’ put on my bowler hat and grab a cup of tea from the tea shop down the road before taking the tube to work.
Of course all ozzies do is sit on the beach having BBQ’s, Americans all live in Skyscrapers in Hollywood and Mexicans call everyone gringo and drink Tequila.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
By: steve rowell - 29th June 2007 at 07:19
They’re just as bad in this country with the likes of McDonald’s, KFC or Krispy Kreme on every second corner..when we were kids the only take away treat we got was fish and chips on a Friday night
By: WP840 - 28th June 2007 at 12:23
Brits addicted to junk food
No!
Brits are addicted to laziness, instead of spending time in the kitchen cooking a meal they would phone up local pizza/burger etc delivery and eat that.
Much easier.
Alternatly they could buy the Microwave in 5 minute meals, for a change.
By: steve rowell - 28th June 2007 at 07:36
What’s deadlier a deep fried Mars bar or a deep fried Twinkie? 😮
Try this little calorie laden artery hardening number
By: steve rowell - 17th June 2007 at 03:59
I agree, it’s vile. Far too sickly sweet. I suppose that may be the point though.
The only thing Coke is good for is as a flux for soldering or as an acid for cleaning old pennies
By: steve rowell - 17th June 2007 at 03:53
You can’t beat the good ole comfort food your Mam or Gran used to make when you were a wee lad..i don’t know whether that type of good ole Geordie nosh is still consumed in the Toon these days.. more than likely Geordie’s are addicted to curry and other Asian foods like the rest of Britain
By: Snapper - 16th June 2007 at 07:50
I agree, it’s vile. Far too sickly sweet. I suppose that may be the point though.
By: frankvw - 15th June 2007 at 12:57
Frank, some people simply prefer the taste of diet coke over fully-leaded coke. Is that difficult to comprehend?
Honestly? Yes ! 😀
By: steve rowell - 15th June 2007 at 08:47
I can confirm that the chippy in the main street in Fort William did deep fried steak & kidney pies the last time I stopped there on the way up to Skye. It took me a few moments to work out why my pie had a strange texture and a higher than expected level of greasy ooze coming from it. It went in the bin.
Frank, some people simply prefer the taste of diet coke over fully-leaded coke. Is that difficult to comprehend?
My Brother-in-law drinks 4-6 litres of of full strength Coke everyday..needless to say he’s the size of a block of flats from all the sugar
By: frankvw - 15th June 2007 at 08:03
Well, there must be a lot of them, then…
By: steve rowell - 15th June 2007 at 05:49
Speaking of junk food, have you noticed how many people go to a fast food place, order a large meal, and, as a beverage, and a diet coke ? I mean, what’s the point???
Probably because they’re diabetic Frank!!..it’s the sugar content not the salt content that they must avoid
By: frankvw - 14th June 2007 at 22:58
Speaking of junk food, have you noticed how many people go to a fast food place, order a large meal, and, as a beverage, and a diet coke ? I mean, what’s the point???
By: Snapper - 14th June 2007 at 21:35
Excuse me? What’s the problem with this? it seems very accurate to me.
By: steve rowell - 9th June 2007 at 03:49
I assure you I do not.
Also pizzas…… 😎
I’d suggest the local undertaker in that town or village is run off his feet
By: Spitfire Pilot - 9th June 2007 at 00:19
Perhaps the author has been watching the Simpsons 😀 😀 😀 LOL 😀 Sometimes I am glad that I live in a little village instead of a town or city…..that way I’m not always tempted to eat that kind of stuff……also helps with getting away from the local druggies 😀 😀 😀 LOL 😀
By: Grey Area - 7th June 2007 at 19:06
Surely you jest
I assure you I do not.
Also pizzas…… 😎
By: steve rowell - 7th June 2007 at 02:30
Deep-fried meat and potato pies (and I kid you not!) are a different matter, however. 😮
Surely you jest
By: Pete Truman - 4th June 2007 at 08:53
One of the worst things about ‘Junk Food’ are the morons who go up to Macdonalds roundabout at night, buy their Big Macs, KFC’s, whatever, then chuck the wrappers out the car window.
We have some lovely countryside round here but wherever you go there are plastic and cardboard food containers all over the place, even if there’s a laybye with a litter bin the gits can’t be bothered to get out the car and use it.
Saturday nights are the worst, when I take the dogs for a walk on a sunday morning, I sometimes take a dustbin bag to get rid of the rubbish left lying about from the night before.
It makes me maaaaaad……..
By: steve rowell - 4th June 2007 at 01:04
“Junk food”??The lad’s obviously never had a stottie or panacalty with pease puddin’ or even a singin’ hinnie
By: Grey Area - 3rd June 2007 at 19:44
What’s deadlier a deep fried Mars bar or a deep fried Twinkie? 😮
Neither come close to being as dangerous as a deep-fried claymore mine. 😉
Deep-fried meat and potato pies (and I kid you not!) are a different matter, however. 😮
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May 23, 2007 at 1:57 am