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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Ellie Harrison

David Attenborough and Stephen Fry voted nation’s favourite voices

Photograph: Rex

Sir David Attenborough has the nation’s favourite voice, according to a poll commissioned by Virgin Media.

The naturalist was named the “best voice” by 28 per cent of the 2,000 adults polled, in a year that saw him launch the Netflix documentary A Life on Our Planet.

Comedian Stephen Fry's voice came in second place (19 per cent), followed by Joanna Lumley's with 18 per cent.

Other favourites include Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Trevor McDonald, and Dame Judi Dench.

A plummy tone was named as the accent people could listen to for the longest, with the Queen's English also the preferred voice to hear on the radio or TV.

But the Irish accent was named the most attractive, while the Birmingham twang won the title for “most boring”.

The research was commissioned to launch Virgin Media's new Virgin TV 360 platform, which is fully voice-activated.

See the full list of the top 10 favourite voices in the UK below.

Sir David Attenborough

Stephen Fry

Joanna Lumley

Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Trevor McDonald  

Dame Judi Dench  

Dame Helen Mirren  

David Tennant  

Brian Blessed  

Idris Elba

Additional reporting by SWNS.

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