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Bono is the least deserving of a knighthood, according to new poll

Singer and co-founder of RED Bono gestures while participating in the "Closing the Financing Gap" session at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Bono has topped a poll of celebrities least deserving of a knighthood (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Bono has topped a poll to name the least deserving celebrity Knight.

The U2 frontman was awarded an honorary knighthood in the 2007 UK's New Year’s Honours List.

However, Brits now believe the musician, whose real name is Paul David Hewson, shouldn’t have received the prestigious accolade, according to almost 22 per cent of those taking part in the survey.

Bono came under fire when his name was included in the Paradise Papers - a leak of 13.4 million files - that exposed how people could avoid tax.

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He was also linked to an investigation for potential tax avoidance when a Lithuanian shopping mall he partly owned allegedly avoided paying 47,000 euros (£41,500) in local taxes, according to BBC News.

Whilst the company that owned the mall denied any wrong doing, Bono released a statement which stated that he had been “assured by those running the company that it is fully tax compliant".

The poll, conducted by OnePoll for TV channel, HISTORY, also featured British and Hollywood actress Emma Thompson.

Thompson who joined the climate change protests that took place in London earlier this year, was criticised for being a hypocrite when she was spotted on a plane.

The actress later defended herself during a discussion on BBC Radio 4 when she admitted that she has to fly due to the nature of her job.

She said: “It’s very difficult to do my job without occasionally flying, although I do fly a lot less than I did.

“But we are caught because to travel at all by aeroplane is impossible without causing damage to the planet.

“I’m in the very fortunate position of being able to offset my carbon footprint, but most people can’t,” she added.

Emma Thompson headshot, actress, graphic element on gray
Emma Thompson was recently criticised for taking a plane when she joined the protests for climate change

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Meanwhile, Alan Sugar, Twiggy, Mick Jagger, Cliff Richard and Darcey Bussell also feature in the poll.

Speaking about the latest findings, a HISTORY spokesperson said: “In years gone by Knights would fight on behalf of their country, so there was little question that they deserved their title.

“But in modern celebrity culture, who deserves such a high honour is subject to a lot more debate.”

National treasures including Dame Judie Dench and Dame Maggie Smith were placed at the bottom of the poll with the fewest amount of votes.

The full list below:

  1. Bono - 21.90%

  2. Alan Sugar - 19.55%

  3. Twiggy - 19.15%

  4. Mick Jagger - 18.40%

  5. Emma Thompson - 16.45%

  6. Cliff Richard - 16.20%

  7. Barbara Windsor - 16.15%

  8. Darcey Bussell - 15.40%

  9. Elton John - 15.15%

  10. Bob Geldof - 14.00%

  11. Alex Ferguson - 13.65%

  12. Tom Jones - 13.50%

  13. Sean Connery - 12.55%

  14. Patrick Stewart - 12.55%

  15. Kenneth Branagh - 12.50%

  16. Michael Parkinson - 12.30%

  17. Kelly Holmes - 12.25%

  18. Paul McCartney - 12.05%

  19. Esther Rantzen - 12.00%

  20. Helen Mirren - 11.35%

  21. Anthony Hopkins - 11.35%

  22. Ian McKellen - 10.95%

  23. Geoff Hurst - 10.90%

  24. Michael Caine - 10.35%

  25. Maggie Smith - 10.00%

  26. Judi Dench - 9.60%