Calling all Cumbrians - did you know you're the ugliest people in the nation?

Question

The Sunday Times food critic, A. A. Gill, stopped in Penrith and said "the locals, in stark counterpoint to their surroundings, are the ugliest people in the nation. That's despite fierce competition from the Scottish Borders." (Taken from his article in the Sunday Times Style magazine of 30 September.)

Whilst I normally enjoy Mr Gill's wit and ascerbic use of the English language, I have to protest. I am married to a Cumbrian - a man with film-star good looks. My mother in law is a handsome woman. How dare Mr Gill suggest that Cumbrian's are the ugliest people in the nation!

So, let's put it to the vote. Who do you think are the ugliest people in the nation? 10 points for the most entertaining and plausible answer (but if you say Cumbria I will give you a thumbs-down!).

jessica, it's only a bit of fun! Lighten up! Anyway, AA Gill started this. And please believe me when I say I do not look at the otward appearance - beauty comes from within.

Hi its me again - Cumbria is in the North West of England, just by the Scottish border. Now, who do you want a photo of - me or my husband (lol)?

Snetterton, you are so right about Cumbrians not knowing what a traffic indicator is! The standard of driving up here leaves a great deal to be desired! I'm amazed it didn't attract Mr Gill's attention - he could have had a field day with that one (lol)!

Thumbs up to all you guys and gals who noticed that Mr Gill is no oil painting himself. He is of Scottish ancestry, yet still sees fit to rubbish them, sneering down his unlovely nose at those whom he perceives to be less sophisticated than his good self.

Tillytravis, you are so right - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Clearly, Mr Gill needs his eyes testing (my personal opinion).

Och aye the noo, Annsan! Poor wee man is bereft of love. Mare tae be pittied than scorned.

Tabyfur and jack 2007 - stop being so shy! Who, exactly, are you calling ugly? Which neck of the woods are you referring to? And as for the makems, never heard of 'em!

Answer 1

I read Mr Gill's article in the Sunday Times Style magazine. I've just retrieved it from the recycling bin to refer to it, and will then return it to aforementioned recycling bin where it might actually do some good.

Over the last three decades I have travelled extensively around the UK. Trains are excellent vehicles from which to make observations and I have spent many a happy hour looking out of the windows watching the scenery. The landscape and the appearance of the people of the South of England is soft. Nothing too challenging, all a bit bland. However, the further north one travels the more rugged the countryside becomes, as does the physical appearance of the local people. I have often wondered why this is. Perhaps the forces of nature and social inequalities have something to do with it?

Anyway, back to Mr Gill's article. Each year he forces himself to travel to the northwest Highlands for a week's stalking (pity the poor deer - I hope he's a lousy shot). He suggests that after Bray there's really nowhere anyone would want to stop and open their mouths. So, where is Bray? Never heard of it. Mr Gill wastes an entire sentence on rubbishing Wordsworth before going on to write four paragraphs on Scottish cuisine - he concludes that "The death of Scots cuisine is the most inexplicable suicide in all of civilisation." He may have a point (I am Scottish, so I am allowed to say that). My only consolation is that he awarded a restaurant in London NO stars, and I actually felt sorry for the restaurant after he'd finished it off. Oh, and he even suggested that 'Dinings' should branch out to Glasgow! Get up there, Mr Gill, and don't leave it till next year (but don't make the mistake of insulting the locals).

However, your question was who are the ugliest people in the nation. Well, you get "ugly" everywhere. And I've been everywhere, man, and still can't give you a definitive answer. All I can tell you is that the most beautiful people in the nation are probably the ones we never see, the ones we pass by in the street, the "little" people who give unselfishly of themselves to help others and ask nothing in return. Ugly is more than skin deep. Ugly goes all the way into the heart, the mind and the soul. They are to be found in every county, in every country. Often, they look beautiful and dress in expensive clothes and spend a fortune on themsleves, so vain are they.

Mr Gill is entitled to his opinions. I just hope the good people of Cumbria are more generous and of greater substance than Mr Gill.

Answer 2

There are ugly people everywhere.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - what Mr Gill finds as ugly might be beautiful to another person.

Who are we to judge - it's what's on the inside that counts (although a nice exterior helps).

Answer 3

Oh, a dead heat between Stoke and Wrexham.
The absolute pits is Rhyl in August, as there seems to be a great congregation of the fat and ugly gathering to holiday together, safely away from seeing anybody attractive. They could have filmed the Orc scenes for the Lord of the Rings movies in Rhyl and saved a fortune in make-up. And costume.
Cheers, Steve.

Answer 4

I think he meant Cumbrians in general.There are exceptions for everything in every race.

I've actually never thought about this question before but I think Mexicans in general are ugly people. Ofcourse there are some exceptions - I've seen some beautiful Mexicans. But not many - most i've seen are ugly

Answer 5

Hmm. A question of opinion I suppose. I suppose people from rural areas may be slightly uglier as there's less genetic diversity
compared to urban areas, where we see a lot of immigration, and apparently more genetic diversity= more beautiful people.

Also, on the other hand, people in rural areas breathe fresher air, there's usually less crime e.g. drug abuse, and they're under less stress, which can always alter your appearance.

But in my opinion, it doesn't make any difference where you're from, you're either born ugly, beautiful, or like most people, somewhere in between.

Though Scotland has more ginger people, which drags down the attractiveness level a bit,

Answer 6

A.A Gill is not exactly drop dead gorgeous. Talk about falling out of the ugly tree and hitting every branch on the way down.

You should come to my neck of the woods if you want to see some ugly people. I've lived here all my life and I still can't help staring at some of the beauties walking around and the numbers double on a weekend - on a Friday & Saturday night.

Answer 7

I think the ugliest person in britain is obviously Mr Gill for making comments like that. Bet he is a treat at parties!!!
Then it has to be the makems because they are just plain uglt and their football team is shi te.

Answer 8

I don't know about looks - but I do know that Cumbrians are the worst drivers in the UK. We used to joke that they'd only just got used to motorised transport after centuries on horseback so couldn't possibly understand what an indicator was for.

Answer 9

Well I'm ugly and I live in Cumbria, but then I wasn't born here. Perhaps the ones the author saw were just passing through or "incomers" or "crag rats" or maybe, just maybe, he lingered too long in front of a mirror?

Answer 10

Hoots, mon! Yon big puddin's waddlin' aroon' Glesgae tak sum beatin'!

Ah, but they're lovely folk - wud gie ye thur last bawbee. And directions fra Cambuslang tae John o' Groats - nae trouble!

If ye ask me (an' yur asking, so I'm tellin' ya) the ugliest folk in the wurld are yon bitter gits that winnae forgive onyone. Them that loves little, forgive little, that's what thon Man upstairs said, an' I'm wi' him!