Astronaut Tim Peake voted second most inspirational Briton

The 44-year-old from Westbourne, who is currently on International Space Station for Expedition, was placed second in a poll of 2,000 adults.

The research, by charity the Festival Of Learning, was conducted to launch the 2016 Festival of Learning - an initiative from Learning and Work Institute.

It found secretary-turned author J.K. Rowling to the be the most inspiring living Briton, and saddle-swapping Victoria Pendleton came third.

Ex-Olympian, Eddie the Eagle was fourth and in joint fifth place were chef-turned-political campaigner Jamie Oliver and serial entrepreneur and businesswoman, Karren Brady.

The poll, which aims to encourage people of all ages to take up learning, found a third of Brits have been spurred on to try their hand at something new after watching high-profile names succeed in a new career.

Three quarters of those surveyed admitted to never giving up on their dream jobs.

Stephen Evans, from Learning and Work Institute, said: ‘It’s great that so many people polled are inspired to learn to try new things or work toward their dream job. Learning isn’t just something that happens in a classroom, and it shouldn’t stop when you leave school.’

He called on any institution, business, individual or organisation that offers adults a chance to experience something new to list their event, course or workshop at festivaloflearning.org.uk.

The top childhood dream careers voted for by Britons were:

1. Musician

2. Teacher

3= Astronaut

3= Pilot

5. Actor

6. Doctor

7. Lawyer

8. Prime Minister

9. Chef

10. Sports (various)

The top 5 most inspiring Britons today according to the poll were:

1. J.K. Rowling

2. Tim Peake

3. Victoria Pendleton

4. Eddie the Eagle

5= Jamie Oliver

5= Karren Brady