Children vote Ant and Dec and Joey Essex as 'great' explorers alongside Christopher Columbus and Sir Ranulph Fiennes

By Sarah Gordon

Published: 07:07 EST, 11 April 2014 | Updated: 05:12 EST, 14 April 2014


When it comes to naming their favourite explorers, children rate Ant and Dec right up there with Sir David Attenborough and Christopher Columbus.

And The Only Way is Essex Star Joey Essex was even listed in their top 10 explorers of all time.

While reality TV contestants and hosts made it onto childrens' lists of the greatest explorers, adults were much more likely to name traditional heroes, such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Francis Drake.

TV stars: I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here hosts Ant and Dec have been voted among childrens' favourite explorers in a new poll

TV stars: I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here hosts Ant and Dec have been voted among childrens' favourite explorers in a new poll

According to the poll, conducted by Cadbury to celebrate the 'eggsplorer' theme for it annual Easter Egg trails with the National Trust, Bear Grylls is kids' favourite explorer with 24 per cent of the vote.

The former SAS reservist and star of the programme Man vs Wild, beat Sir David Attenborough to the top spot, who in turn received 17 per cent of the vote, followed by Christopher Columbus in third place.

Former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton ranked just behind the Italian who discovered the Americas, receiving nine per cent of the overall vote.

Adventurers? Joey Essex took part in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! with model Amy Willerton

Adventurers? Joey Essex took part in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! with model Amy Willerton

Now presenting BBC1's Holiday Hit Squad, 30-year-old Helen has clocked up huge achievements over the past few years.

As well as breaking two world records by kayaking 2,000 miles along the Amazon River for Sport Relief, and trekking 500 miles to the South Pole, Skelton also found herself walking a tightrope above Battersea Power Station for Comic Relief.

Hot favourite: Bear Grylls was voted childrens' top explorer, followed by Sir David Attenborough
Hot favourite: Bear Grylls was voted childrens' top explorer, followed by Sir David Attenborough

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Ant and Dec also make it into the top five explorers according to children, despite the fact they haven't taken part in many adventures beyond hosting the ITV show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

 

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And while Sir Francis Drake - the Elizabethan era's most famous sea captain - also made it into the top 10, along with British ocean rower Sarah Outen, who, despite her bid to make a loop around the world using only human power, was beaten into eighth place by Joey Essex.

The TOWIE star's main claim to adventure is appearing in I'm A Celebrity Get ME Out Of Here! but adults also voted him into ninth place as an 'explorer'.

Keen traveller: Helen, just back from Cuba, has just returned from cycling across Cuba with girlfriends

Keen traveller: Helen has just returned from cycling across Cuba with girlfriends

When asked what made the perfect explorer, a fifth (22 per cent) of children thought they just needed to be ‘really cool’, while others listed ‘brave’ (51 per cent) or ‘curious’ (29 per cent) as top traits.

With modern day explorers such as Sir David Attenborough and Bear Grylls inspiring kids to be more inquisitive and curious about the wider world, a third (33 per cent) of children now say they would consider being an explorer when they grow up, compared to less than 5 per cent of adults who wanted to be explorers when they were younger. 

Despite a quarter of children voting Bear Grylls their favourite adventurer of all time, it was parents who kids rated most, with 68 per cent classing their mum or dad as an explorer. They also rated pets (7 per cent) over teachers (6 per cent) as best in class for having explorer qualities.

TOP EXPLORERS ACCORDING TO CHILDREN

1. Bear Grylls

2. Sir David Attenborough

3. Christopher Columbus

4. Helen Skelton

5. Ant & Dec

6. Sir Ranulph Fiennes

7. Sir Francis Drake

8. Joey Essex

9. Sarah Outen

TOP EXPLORERS ACCORDING TO ADULTS

1. Sir David Attenborough

2. Bear Grylls

3. Christopher Columbus

4. Sir Ranulph Fiennes

5. Helen Skelton

6. Sarah Outen

7. Sir Francis Drake

8. Ant & Dec

9. Joey Essex

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The country has gone to the dogs.

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Really!??? I am actually speechless

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That's leftist education for you.

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Try the influence of the dross that is served up on TV today!

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Really, why?? They are all inane.

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I can't believe anyone especially an adult would name these two as explorers,mind you with the tripe that is now broadcast who knows

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I love ant and dec have done since I was a child I would put them at number one but not Joey Essex .

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Love ant and dec I would put then at number 1 but. Joey Essex no way he's a idiot .

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Clearly, not as much an idiot as you!

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Get rid of Gove and put somebody in charge who knows what is needed to make our schools governable and educational once more!!!

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A 20yr old at work asked me "How many curtains make a pair" I almost fell on the floor! Im flabbergasted at the lack of general knowledge our youngsters have.

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nu liebores education, education, education legacy coming home to roost, they have done untold damage to this country

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