Dream dinner guests

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Posted at 10:20AM, 15 July 2008 by Caroline Hire - Food editor, bbcgoodfood.com

If you could pick anyone and I mean anyone to join you at your dinner party, who would it be? Would you choose an entertainer, an intellectual or someone you could stare at dreamily across the table?

Topping the polls in a recent study by YouGov as commissioned by Cancer Research UK for their Dine@Mine campaign, brains won over brawn and banter as Sir David Attenborugh was picked for most desirable dinner guest.

Joint second place went to Good Food favourite Gordon Ramsay, along with Kylie, Baroness Thatcher and JK Rowling. Certainly a mixed bag: some of whom I'd consider leaving on the doorstep, dependent of course, on the size of gift.

The remaining top five went as follows:
3) Will Smith and Sir Winston Churchill (joint)
4) Nelson Mandela and Nigella Lawson (joint)
5) Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie (joint)

Clearly some people forgot to mention Angelina Jolie's other half (how rude) - he'd certainly get a place at my table next to the host (me). And for equally superficial reasons, Josh Lucas would be invited.

The Dalai Lama could probably teach myself and other guests more about life in an evening than the whole of the self help and psychologies section on Amazon so I'd get him along.

Dolly Parton would be there to add a bit of sparkle (I was brought up by an avid line dancer, ok?), along with a few literary types including Alice Waters and John Betjeman. Finally, Russell Brand would be allowed in if he promised to keep his hair at a safe distance from the food (lovingly prepared by Jamie Oliver).

Who would make up your dream dinner party guest list?

Comments

Andrea

15 July 2008, 3:15PM
Andrea

I agree, Russell Brand would be fab, although he's a teetotalling veggie these days so not sure I could serve my usual meaty, boozy feast. I'd also like the Flight of the Conchords for a post-din singalong, Graham Norton for the banter and Aussie comedian Chris Lilley from Summer Heights High for more laughs. We can leave the worthy conversation for another occasion!

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Ermintrude75

16 July 2008, 5:34PM
Ermintrude75

I have hard Alexander McCall Smith at an "in conversation" event, and he would be a great guest - charming and witty and no trace of ego. I also think Bill Bailey would be great, but you probably wouldn't eat much for laughing... (although he was very interesting in "serious" mode on Desert Island Discs recently).

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prune boy

16 July 2008, 11:03PM
prune boy

I'd definitely agree with Winston Churchill. I'd also like to invite Woody Allen and Jesus.

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josephina

18 July 2008, 4:45PM
josephina

I'm with you prune boy, Jesus would be a good one, Billy Connolly and Tony Robinson would also have to be there. Ray Winston would be my date for the evening and Audrey Hepburn can make an appearance. Maybe Jesus would help with that one!

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Haddock in the Kitchen

21 July 2008, 8:48PM
Haddock in the Kitchen

No contest for my dinner guest. Elizabeth David

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kipperelli

28 July 2008, 4:47PM
kipperelli

Johnny Depp dressed as captain jack to gaze at and stephen Fry to listen to

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Suzanne

20 August 2008, 12:26PM
Suzanne

Definitely Stephen Fry for humour and intelligent conversation, and Alan Carr to make us all howl with laughter. And Nigel Slater, too (but only if he brought dessert). This is turning into the gayest dinner party on earth ...

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Nicola G

28 September 2008, 8:41PM
Nicola G

My Dream Dinner Party Guests would be Angelina Jolie, Nigella Lawson, Victoria Wood, Victoria Beckham, The Queen and Lisa Simpson. The Ultimate Girls Night In!

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