Britons reveal their top 10 dream jobs: Footballer, spy, private detective and mad scientist all make the cut

More commonly held careers such as actor, vet and dancer also made the top 10, as did ‘becoming my own boss’

Cool under pressure: Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Spectre’

Britons have revealed their ultimate career choices, showing that if there were no obstacles the UK would be a nation of footballers, spies and mad scientists.

In a list of people’s 10 dream careers, footballer topped the list, closely followed by private detective, and spy. More commonly found careers such as becoming an actor or actress, a vet, a dancer, and the ability to ‘become my own boss’ were also marked out as dream jobs.

The research, which saw 1,000 people surveyed about their dream careers, was commissioned as part of the launch for JK Rowling’s new crime novel, Career of Evil, written under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. It is the third book in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike.

The top 10 dream jobs are:

1. Fooballer

David Beckham and sons Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

2. Private Detective

Holistic detective Dirk Gently, as played by Steven Mangan (BBC)

3. Actor/Actress

Emily Blunt in her latest film 'Sicario'

4. Spy

Daniel Craig as James Bond (2015 Metro Goldwyn Mayer)

5. Becoming my own boss

Lord Sugar with The Apprentice judges Karren Brady and Claude Littner (PA)

6. Singer/pop star

Adele at the 2012 Brit Awards, where she won Best British Female Solo Artist and British Album of the Year for 21 (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

7. Vet

A veterinary staff member conducts medical examinations on a 14-year-old male orangutan

8. Astronaut

ESA astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti prepares a meal on ISS (ESA/YouTube)

9. Dancer

Ukrainian ballet dancer Sergei Polunin performs a stunning routine to 'Take Me To Church' (David LaChapelle Studio)

10. Mad Scientist

Christopher Lloyd plays eccentric scientist Doc Brown in 1985's Back to the Future (Rex)