Wallace and Gromit top inspirational figures poll

Published on 17/05/2006 12:16

WALLACE and Gromit have topped a poll to find the most inspirational figures in the creative arts world.

The cartoon creations were the surprise choice in a survey of 16 to 25-year-olds. They beat the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Pete Doherty, Kate Moss and Damien Hirst.

The adventures of Wallace and Gromit have scooped three Oscars for creator Nick Park and their latest caper, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, was a box office smash. Mr Park said: "This is great news. We've never made the Wallace and Gromit films for a specific audience, so it's extremely rewarding to all of us at Aardman that the films inspire this particular age group."

The survey was commissioned by organisers of the Noise arts and media festival in association with MSN Spaces. They asked 4500 people who or what inspired them in the creative arts.

Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys came second, followed by cartoon band Gorillaz.

In fourth place was "society" as a whole. JK Rowling's schoolboy wizard Harry Potter was fifth, ahead of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley.

Big Brother and David Beckham also made up the top ten. The top 25 included Brit artist Damien Hirst, former Mercury Prize winner Dizzee Rascal, model Kate Moss and her on-off boyfriend, Babyshambles star Pete Doherty.