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Doherty is 'most undeserving icon'
By This is London Last updated at 09:54am on 30.11.06
Pete Doherty: most undeserving icon of the year
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Troubled rocker Pete Doherty has been voted the most undeserving icon of the year.
The singer, 27, is the personality least worthy of their celebrity status, according to the survey.
Russell Brand, Conservative leader David Cameron, Tom Cruise and Peaches Geldof are also on the list.
Men's magazine Arena asked readers to name their Anti-Icons of the Year.
Doherty, whose on-off relationship with supermodel Kate Moss and battle with drugs have kept him in the public eye, got most votes.
Readers said Brand, who lost viewers on his E4 show and is famous for being a womaniser, had over-hyped status.
The mistakes made by Syed Ahmed on The Apprentice and four drink-driving convictions put him next in the list.
Cameron comes fourth for attracting ridicule for his "hug a hoodie" campaign and for cycling to the House of Commons while a gas guzzling car followed behind with his briefcase.
Recently-married megastar Tom Cruise came fifth.
Arena Editor William Drew said: "We asked our readers to pick those people who have consumed the headlines and defined the last year for all the wrong reasons.
"Pete Doherty was voted the Anti-Icon of the Year by 38% of the vote thanks to his drug habit which has popularised junkie chic and earned him an almost cult following, despite overwhelmingly mediocre music and less than inspiring live performances."
The survey of around 1000 readers was conducted online and the Anti-Icons of the Year appears in the January issue out now.
The top 10 anti icons
1. Pete Doherty
2. Russell Brand
3. Syed Ahmed
4. David Cameron
5. Tom Cruise
6. Gordon Ramsay
7. Johnny Borrell of Razorlight
8. Jimmy Carr
9. Graham Poll (referee)
10. Peaches Geldof
Reader views (2)
Oh the irony, Arena highlight him as the 'most undeserving icon' by having him at the top of an abusrd list that will no doubt feature heavily in their next edition.
'Overwhelmingly mediocre music'? Only one of Babyshambles singles hasn't made the top ten, a top 10 album that sold over 110,000 copies to date and an exciting sounding new EP on the way.
'Less than inspiring live?' Tell that to people who went to 'Get Loaded In The Park' or the sold out Brixton Academy recently.
I'd take Pete Doherty over Peaches Geldof any day of the week. Now she really doesn't do anything to deserve her 'status' other than get her picture taken.
- Ben, London
So just so I have this right in my mind - He has been voted the 'celebrity' least worthy of their 'status' and to celebrate this fact you give him a load more publicity. Ironic.
- Simon, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
