You May Also Like
What’s an appropriate ‘thank you’ gift for the car mechanic that has gone above & beyond?
- April 30, 2022
- 19 comments
My car’s been through it recently, and the mechanic has been amazing on several occasions. I want to…
What happens if my passport docs are sent to a different office?
- February 4, 2023
- 3 comments
THE WAFFLE: Have finally renewed my passport to my new (married) name and decided at the same time…
Should Team GB have used a British brand to design/make their kit instead of a German brand?
- April 19, 2024
- No comments
Team GB’s kit for Paris 2024 is made in partnership with Adidas which is a German sportswear brand.…
47 comments
I don’t think Gazza is that unusual. He’s a sport star who struggled to cope with the wealth, game and adoration. It’s a common story.
Blobby is more specific, because it requires understanding a particular form of irony and satire.
There’s a form of hobbyist or nerd that I’d be surprised really exists in other countries. Fred Dibnah, Dick Strawbridge, James May, later-era Michael Portillo, Lucy Worsley, Susie Dent. Usually middle class but not always, very specific and niche interests but shares them with a level of passion and interest that is compelling. I think that obsessive commitment to a niche cause is quite a British thing.
Chris Eubank’s post-boxing life and career?
Eddie the Eagle
Worzel Gummidge. Nightmarish shit that was.
Mr Blobby. I don’t think I could explain because you’d have to explain Edmonds too
Punch and Judy!
Mr blobby
Ronnie Pickering.
I’m not even joking, trying to pick apart the layers of irony would be a herculean task.
The Parliamentary Mace. Admittedly it’s more of a “what” than a “who” but it is a British cultural icon that cannot be explained easily.
Danny Dyer
The inhabitants of Royston Vasey
a lot of the modern ones are hard to explain because 90% of their ‘fans’ are laughing at them rather than with them
the Big John, Tom Skinner, Bootlegger people absolutely baffle my mates German gf
doesn’t help that the stereotypes say we’re all brash idiots, and then they see us laughing and promoting brash idiots
Purple Aki.
Danny Dyer.
Bit of a stretch calling him a cultural icon but I cbf thinking.
Corden.
He’s technically British, but IDK what he is.
Karl Pilkington
Rik Mayall. His type of comedy just doesn’t translate. The Young One’s, Bottom and even Man Down is uniquely British.
Roland.
Brum
The chav
Tom Weir. He’s a cultural icon to a certain subsection of the British population. “Aye he’s a bloke that used to go for walk round Scotland and as such he’s became a bit of a hero for men interested in a certain type of fashion. He’s even got a wooly hat named after him.”
Ronnie Pickering. Dont you know who he is
The Go Compare man
liam gallagher
It is absolutely Blobby. As a foreigner, BFQOTY was my first introduction to him…it…?
A lifetime of involvement in British culture did not prepare me for that.
Ken Dodd
Edward Jenner, and without Googling it i bet none of you know why.
My mum isn’t from the UK, and never understood the obsession with Jimmy Saville.
Ant and Dec.
Carrot in a Box
Fred Dibnah.
You can’t explain him, he explains himself. To try to put into words who or what he is and stands for would only undermine his charisma and place in the pantheon of British people.
Louis Theroux
Noel Edmunds. He’s so shit, and someone died on his show. Now he thinks positive vibes can cure cancer and he’s days away from buying the BBC.
Most of them Lol But then I find it doesn’t even have to be people from abroad I tried describing Burty Basset and Mr Blobby to a 10 year old the other day!
…….all I can say is I think she thought I must have been on one of those funny cigarettes she’s been told to keep away.
Bagpuss
Do other countries have trainspotters?
Ali G.
Saville
The Wealdstone Raider
Karl Pilkington
John Bull
I’ve had real trouble explaining Mr blobby before
I lived in the UK for 7 years and never understood ‘cheeky nandos’. What was so cheeky about it ?
Also I did not understand the morning chat shows also. It always felt like a parody, they always discussed super mundane things.
As someone with an Australian husband, there is so many. Like how do I explain Jordan or Jade Goodie, or someone. You just get this expression like what in the fuck were you lot watching in the 2000s???
Even people like Bruce forsyth and require a good few minutes of context.
Ken Dodd. Some old bloke with bad teeth and a feather duster? What the actual…
The Krankies. Make them watch a few episodes, take a deep breath and say “brace yourself, you see that little boy? Well…”
Either that or try to explain Stu Francis.
Age comprehensively shown.
I live next door to mr blobby now.