Cultural depictions of prime ministers of the United Kingdom

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Cultural depictions of prime ministers of the United Kingdom have become commonplace since the term's first use in 1905. [1] [2] However, they have been applied to prime ministers who were in office before the first use of the term. They are listed here chronologically from the date of first appointment as prime minister.

Contents

William Pitt the Younger

Lord Liverpool

George Canning

Duke of Wellington

Lord Melbourne

Melbourne has been portrayed in the following film and television productions:

Robert Peel

Lord Palmerston

Palmerston has been portrayed in the following film and television productions:

Lord Derby

Benjamin Disraeli

William Gladstone

Gladstone has been portrayed in the following film and television productions:

Lord Salisbury

Salisbury has been portrayed in the following film and television productions:

A. J. Balfour

Balfour was the subject of two parody novels based on Alice in Wonderland, Clara in Blunderland (1902) and Lost in Blunderland (1903), which appeared under the pseudonym Caroline Lewis; one of the co-authors was Harold Begbie. [4] [5]

He was portrayed on television in:

Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Campbell-Bannerman was portrayed by Geoffrey Bayldon in episodes 12 and 13 of tv series Edward the Seventh (1975).

H. H. Asquith

Asquith was portrayed in the following TV series:

David Lloyd George

Bonar Law

Stanley Baldwin

Baldwin has been portrayed in the following film and television productions:

The character of ‘’Stanley’’ (referred to in his only book appearance as ‘’No. 2’’) from the British children’s book series ‘The Railway Series’’, a Baldwin Class 10-12-D locomotive, was named after Baldwin. [12]

Ramsay MacDonald

Neville Chamberlain

Chamberlain has been portrayed in the following films and television productions:

Winston Churchill

Clement Attlee

Literature

Clement Attlee composed this limerick about himself to demonstrate how he was often underestimated: [15]

Few thought he was even a starter.
There were many who thought themselves smarter.
But he finished PM,
CH and OM,
An earl and a Knight of the Garter.

An alternative version also exists, which may reflect Attlee's use of English more closely: [16]

There were few who thought him a starter,
Many who thought themselves smarter.
But he ended PM,
CH and OM,
an Earl and a Knight of the Garter.

Drama

Film

Anthony Eden

Literature

Music

Plays

Television

Film

Harold Macmillan

Alec Douglas-Home

Harold Wilson

Television

Film

Other

Edward Heath

James Callaghan

Margaret Thatcher

John Major

Tony Blair

Gordon Brown

David Cameron

Theresa May

Boris Johnson

Johnson was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2022 Sky Atlantic drama This England. KennethBranaghApr2011.jpg
Johnson was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2022 Sky Atlantic drama This England .

The political career of Johnson has been the subject of several television docudramas:

Johnson's bumbling mannerisms and distinctive hairstyle have also made him the subject of parody:

Johnson has been the subject of British music and music media:

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