JK Rowling tops list of celebrities people want to see knighted, survey shows

Harry Potter author beats Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley to top spot

JK Rowling has announced that four new eBooks about the 'wizarding world' of 'Harry Potter' are set to be released next month (Getty)

One in five British adults think J K Rowling should be knighted, according to a study.

The Harry Potter author, who is set to release four new eBooks next month which will give fans a chance to read more about her “wizarding world”, topped a list of celebrities who people want to see as a knight or dame.

A further one in six adults said they would like to see Stephen Fry pick up the title, while Joanna Lumley was another popular choice.

Other stars Britons wanted to see take the honour included Paul O’Grady, David Walliams and Dawn French.

The research was commissioned by TV channel HISTORY to launch series two of historical fiction drama Knightfall.

A spokesperson said: “Many Britons believe a knighthood is the ultimate honour, and it’s no surprise to see national treasures like Stephen Fry and J K Rowling at the top of our list.

“They’ve both contributed enormously to society, and appear to be hardworking and decent people, which the public values greatly.

“However, the British public willing something doesn’t always make it so, as there is a very complicated procedure in place to make people knights or dames.”

Rowling has already been given the Order of the Companion of Honour, appearing in the Queen’s birthday list in 2017, but is yet to make full dame-hood.

Forty-five per cent of those polled believed a knight- or dame-hood was the highest honour a person could possibly have.

Four in 10 said in order to earn one, the recipient must have done something that betters mankind.

A quarter thought that person must be a good role model for children, and 36 per cent said they would like their knights or dames to have performed an incredible act of bravery.

Twenty per cent of respondents confessed to looking forward to the lists of honours coming out each year, so they could see if their favourites made it.

However, not all adults agreed with the concept of knighthoods, with 35 per cent of respondents believing women should be knighted exactly the same as men, rather than being made dames.

Almost half of those polled, via OnePoll.com, also thought the entire concept “old-fashioned”, with 29 per cent saying they would turn down the offer.

Thirty-two per cent even said they respected those that had been offered a knighthood and turned it down, such as scientist Stephen Hawking.

HISTORY’s spokesperson added: “The concept of knighthoods is something with deep roots in British history.

“But while knights like the ones in our show Knightfall do things very differently to knights and dames today, often they have many similar attributes.

“Honour and respect are traits that are just as important now as they were centuries ago.”

SWNS