Many Britons cannot name 'famous' figures on banknotes

Only around a third of Britons can name at least one of the figures from history who appear on the Bank of England's banknotes, a survey has found.

Just 36% of people surveyed for Barclaycard could correctly name any of the people apart from the Queen who appear on the notes, the research found.

The survey of more than 2,000 people in late September found 31% knew that Sir Winston Churchill appears on the new plastic £5 note, while just 2% were aware that the £50 note features entrepreneur Matthew Boulton and engineer James Watt, who helped forge the Industrial Revolution.

People in the south west of England appear to be the best at recalling faces on banknotes, with 43% of those surveyed there able to name at least one figure.

Tami Hargreaves, commercial director of digital consumer payments at Barclaycard, said: "The introduction of the new £5 polymer note spurred a renewed interest in English banknotes yet, despite this, it's surprising just how unfamiliar Brits seem to be with the famous figures who appear alongside the Queen."

When asked which figures they would like to see on banknotes, Florence Nightingale was the most popular choice in the survey, followed by William Shakespeare. Both have previously appeared on the Bank's notes.

One in seven (14%) of those surveyed would like to see the Queen depicted on both sides of the banknote.

The Bank's website says it features characters on banknotes "to celebrate individuals that have shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society".