David Bowie named Britain’s most influential artist of last 50 years - here’s who else made the list

Virgin Radio

11 Aug 2022, 06:51

Iconic musician David Bowie has been named Britain’s most influential artist of the past half-century.

The legendary singer topped the Sky Arts list of 50 influential artists, which takes into account visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, music, film and TV.

One of the best-selling artists ever, Bowie’s albums such as Aladdin Sane and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars regularly rank highly in all-time best-of lists. Bowie also starred in movies including The Man Who Fell To Earth and Absolute Beginners.

He died of liver cancer in January 2016, two days after his 69th birthday.

Bowie topped the list ahead of Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen and It’s A Sin creator Russell T Davies, who will be back as Doctor Who showrunner, having revived the show in 2005.

Fourth on the list was fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, while playwright Caryl Churchill came in fifth.

Elsewhere in the top 50 were musicians including Sir Elton John, Spice Girls, Skin from Skunk Anansie, Boy George, Stormzy, and Kae Tempest.

Actors Michaela Coel and Steve Coogan made the list, as did directors Christopher Nolan, Alfred Hitchcock and Ridley Scott.

Mysterious street artist Banksy is in the top 50, along with Tracey Emin, while comedians Ricky Gervais and Victoria Wood are also in there. 

The judging panel was led by broadcaster and DJ Lauren Laverne. She said: “David Bowie coming in at number one was the cherry on top of a brilliant judging process, and it was great to be a part of it.”

A highly-anticipated documentary film about Bowie, called Moonage Daydream, is set to hit cinema screens in September. You can watch the official trailer here: 

Here’s the full Sky Arts Top 50 

• 1. David Bowie  

• 2. Sir Steve McQueen 

• 3. Russell T Davies 

• 4. Vivienne Westwood 

• 5. Caryl Churchill 

• 6. Michael Clark 

• 7. Angela Carter

• 8. Stormzy 

• 9. Muriel Spark 

• 10. Michaela Coel 

• 11. Andrea Levy 

• 12. Jenny Sealey

• 13. Alan Hollinghurst 

• 14. Siouxsie Sioux 

• 15. Yinka Shonibare 

• 16. Sonia Boyce

• 17. Akram Khan

• 18. Linder

• 19. Ricky Gervais

• 20. Skin

• 21. Ali Smith

• 22. Ridley Scott

• 23. Soul II Soul

• 24. Harold Pinter 

• 25. Christopher Nolan

• 26. Bernardine Evaristo

• 27. Sarah Kane

• 28. Sade

• 29. Simon McBurney

• 30. Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

• 31. Alexander McQueen

• 32. Punchdrunk

• 33. Steve Coogan

• 34. Banksy

• 35. Elton John

• 36. Penelope Fitzgerald

• 37. Black Audio Film Collective

• 38. Mike Leigh

• 39. Victoria Wood

• 40. Emma Rice

• 41. Tracey Emin

• 42. The Specials

• 43. Sarah Waters

• 44. Zadie Smith

• 45. Boy George

• 46. Chris Ofili

• 47. The Spice Girls

• 48. Kae Tempest

• 49. Debbie Tucker Green

• 50. Alfred Hitchcock