STV launches search for The Greatest Scot

3 November 2009

Who is your all-time Greatest Scot? Is Robert Burns, Scotland’s favourite Bard, most worthy of the title, or does historical leader William Wallace get your vote? Has inventor Alexander Graham Bell had the biggest influence on the world, or is Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy a true Scottish hero in your eyes?

This  week, as part of its Homecoming programme series, STV will broadcast The Greatest Scot, a week-long, celebratory search for the most important, influential and popular Scot of all time, as voted for by the public.

Starting on Monday 9 November and running for five consecutive nights, The Greatest Scot will present 35 of the most significant Scottish personalities who ever lived, inviting viewers to vote for the person they think best deserves to be crowned Greatest Scot.

A host of well-known Scots will present the shows throughout the week, including Taggart star Alex Norton, comedian Sanjeev Kohli, geographer Vanessa Collingridge, The Apprentice candidate Karen Bremner and STV news anchor John MacKay, with a different genre introduced each night.

30 of the 35 names were selected by a panel of esteemed judges, including leading historian Tom Devine, former footballer Pat Nevin, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Daily Record editor Bruce Waddell, adventurer Louise Scott, business woman Hamira Khan, and Jonathan Mills, Director of Edinburgh International Festival.

In addition, each night STV’s Stephen Jardine will reveal one of five ‘People’s Choice’ nominees, selected from public nominations throughout September.

The overall winner will be revealed on St Andrews Day, when Stephen Jardine will count down the Top 5 nominees and unveil the people’s all-time Greatest Scot. The winner will be marked with a permanent piece of contemporary art by a Scottish artist, which will be donated to the nation.

Alan Clements, Head of Content at STV, said: “This series is a fantastic, five-day celebration of the most loved and respected personalities throughout Scottish history. We’ve put together a great mix of entertainment, popular presenters and a fascinating look at the Scots who shaped our nation, which I hope will have viewers hooked all week.”

Presenter Alex Norton said: “I think this show will cause quite a debate across the country - there are so many fantastic Scots on the shortlist and picking your favourite is not an easy task! I can’t wait to find out who viewers have chosen as their Greatest Scot of all time.”

Culture Minister Michael Russell said: “In the Year of Homecoming, we are recognising Scotland's contributions to the world and I am sure this series will hook all viewers, encouraging debate and discussion about the Greatest Scot of all time. With such an impressive shortlist of worthy Scots, I look forward to hearing the viewers’ choice. How fitting that the winner will be announced on St Andrew’s Day, our national day and a time to celebrate Scotland and its people.”

The full list of nominees will be available on www.stv.tv/greatestscot from Monday 9 November. Viewers can vote for their Scot of choice on www.stv.tv/greatestscot or by telephone from 9am on Monday 9 November until midnight on Sunday 22 November.

The programme is also available on the STV Player.

And the nominees are…

Arts and Entertainment (Monday 9 November)

Presented by Alex Norton
Robert Burns
Robert Louis Stevenson
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Lord Reith
Billy Connolly
JK Rowling
People’s Choice nominee

Scientists and Engineers (Tuesday 10 November)

Presented by Vanessa Collingridge
Joseph Lister
Sir James Young Simpson
James Clerk Maxwell
Sir William Arrol
Sir Alexander Fleming
Sir James Whyte Black
People’s Choice nominee

Sport (Wednesday 11 November)

Presented by Sanjeev Kohli
Eric Henry Liddell
Jim Clark
Jock Stein
Sir Alex Ferguson
Liz McColgan
Sir Chris Hoy
People’s Choice nominee

Inventors and Entrepreneurs (Thursday 12 November)

Presented by Karen Bremner
John Law
Andrew Carnegie
Alexander Graham Bell
John Logie Baird
Sir William Burrell
Ann Gloag
People’s Choice nominee

Leaders and Thinkers (Friday 13 November)

Presented by John Mackay
William Wallace
Robert the Bruce
David Hume
Adam Smith
John Muir
People’s Choice nominee

The Greatest Scot
Nightly from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November, 9pm on STV
The result will be revealed on Monday 30 November, 9pm on STV

Greatest Scot is sponsored by Daily Record and the Scottish Government.

STV Press Contacts:
Anna Hendry, 0141 300 3830 or anna.hendry@stv.tv  
Kirstin Stevenson, 0141 300 3670 or kirstin.stevenson@stv.tv