Wouldn't you just hate those Spice Girls living next door?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Substantial numbers of people would relish having the Spice Girls move in next door, in spite of the risk of having fans of the pop group parked on their lawn. Many more, however, would regard the five girls as the neighbours from hell.
A survey by NatWest Mortgage Services published today reveals the schism in attitudes to the chart-topping girl group - from slavish adoration among a large chunk of under-25s to downright loathing in older members of the population.
For the survey, some 2,000 people over the age of 15 were asked who would be their ideal or most reviled neighbours. The Spice Girls came ninth in the first category, scoring 11 per cent, but top of the second list, with 32 per cent.
To the mystification of researchers, the television presenter Jill Dando received the most votes (20 per cent) as the person with whom to exchange gossip over the garden fence. (No doubt they questioned disproportionate numbers of middle-aged men.)
Ms Dando shares joint first place with Des Lynam, the television sports anchorman. Close behind are two men separated by age but united by dreamy good looks: tennis player Tim Henman and film star George Clooney (18 and 16 per cent respectively).
Also featuring in the top 10 of "des residents", as NatWest calls them, are television personalities Anthea Turner (bland blonde looks similar to Ms Dando's), Anne Robinson (dominatrix sex appeal) and Chris Evans (possibly confused with someone else).
Evans, more predictably, is number five in the "nightmare neighbours" list, which also includes the first couple of showbiz, Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit, and Jeremy Beadle (31 per cent would slash their wrists if he moved in next door).
Fictional characters figured prominently as unpopular neighbours. Thirty per cent of respondents in the survey nominated the Battersbys, the problem family that recently moved into Coronation Street; other choices were Wayne and Waynetta Slob, Harry Enfield's fag-smoking creations, Victor Meldrew of One Foot In The Grave and Dot Cotton of EastEnders.
The findings gives the lie to the popular perception of neighbours as folk who keep themselves to themselves. It reveals that 92 per cent of people talk to their neighbours at least once a week and 44 per cent speak to them daily.
When asked what they hated most about the family next door, loud music, late-night parties and unruly children were principal provocations. Garden gnomes, noisy lovemaking and "lowering the tone of the neighbourhood" were also cited.
Qualities valued in neighbours included help with do-it-yourself and decorating, babysitting, "having me round for dinner/barbecues" and "keeping me up to date with gossip".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments