Yahoo News BBC's Icons sparks huge debate by leaving out some legends
BBC Two's Icons was bound to spark debate by trying to narrow down the most iconic public figure of the 20th Century. And that's exactly what happened!
The eight-part special tries to figure out our most important person by narrowing down the contestants into representatives for multiple fields, with the public then voting for one of four choices each night.
Last week, viewers picked South African civil rights pioneer Nelson Mandela as the most iconic leader and Ernest Shackleton as the greatest explorer of the 20th century, after two Icons episodes.
The idea is that they'll go on to compete in the finals against the winners in Science, Entertainment, Activism, Sports, Arts and Writing in a World Cup-style tournament to crown one ultimate Icon.
We can only imagine the carnage when that winner is eventually crowned, just judging by the intense debate over the most iconic Entertainers selected in Tuesday's episode, hosted by Friends star Kathleen Turner.
The four entertainers picked for the voting were silent movie comic Charlie Chaplin, Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe, jazz singer Billie Holiday and the Goblin King himself David Bowie.
They're all legends who continue to inspire legions to this day, and it's hard to argue with any of them being included on a list of icons. There's just one problem.
Where are The Beatles? Or Elvis? Or Madonna? Or Prince? Or Sinatra? Or Marlon Brando? Or Meryl Streep? Or Bette Davis? Or Heath Ledger? Or so many others who viewers were missing…
Sorry but icons without the beatles or elvis presley is just bizarre and ridiculous. #Icons
- Macca34 (@Macca343) January 15, 2019
#Icons . Answer. The Beatles
- daniel clements (@danielclems1975) January 15, 2019
No Beatles on tonight’s Icons programme? Lots of Marilyn Monroe though. pic.twitter.com/EzwiMb0hcG
- Jamie (@wiltybanter) January 15, 2019
Bowie but not Lennon 🤦♂️ #Icons
- Robb1901 (@rob35311) January 15, 2019
Another injustice. Lennon more of a 20th century icon than Bowie. Maybe over familiarity is why he was excluded from this list? #icons https://t.co/VufIMLfGwe
- Sian Jasper (@SianJasper) January 15, 2019
well #Icons on @BBCTwo. what a load of shit. who voted on this. elvis presley the most influential artist of the 20th century is not in the final. this guy influenced so many artists that it is laughable that he is not included in the final. pic.twitter.com/ZIdLTIwp8j
- darren amos (@spinoutdaz) January 15, 2019
No Elvis??!!!!! Seriously???!!!! Bitterly disappointed! And where's Bette Davis? ....#Icons
- Nicola Gray (@NicolaGray78) January 15, 2019
#icons on @BBCTwo ... So Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley didn't make the final four... 🤔
- DOB (@Ernest_G_Bilko) January 15, 2019
only the most successful recording artist ever.
And Frank was an actor as well as a singer.
But the panel of experts on #icons new better.- DOB (@Ernest_G_Bilko) January 15, 2019
Ignoring #Icons as Frank Sinatra isn't on the list.
- Rick Lopez (@ViscountViktor) January 15, 2019
I love Bowie but Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and John Lennon are more appropriate candidates #icons
- BangorBuoyNI (@dvdtcb) January 15, 2019
#icons
Are these REALLY the 4 most influential icons in their field?
Utter bollocks tonight.- Andrew J. Riley 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@QuaysRL) January 15, 2019
Not everyone disagreed, though:
Very much enjoying this ICONS series on @BBC gets better every week. You can argue about previous but this weeks list all undeniable. Brilliantly done. I still don’t like the gamification. But hey ho. #icons
- supamilaz (@supamilaz) January 15, 2019
Enjoying #icons BBC2. Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe, David Bowie.
- Scot Williams (@scotwilliams) January 15, 2019
Well, all viewers can do is take it up with the BBC at this point. The winners of both the Science and Entertainers categories will be announced later this week on The One Show.
Icons continues next Monday (January 21) at 9pm on BBC Two with the vote to crown the greatest Activist of the 20th century.
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