The actors Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman have also been added, as have the comedian Ricky Gervais, the actress Anna Friel and the writer Mariella Frostrup.
The 162nd edition of Who’s Who includes more than 33,000 entries giving biographical information.
Lucas lists his pastimes as “eating crisps, watching football, eating chocolate, watching stage musicals, sleeping, eating crumpets”, while Walliams, who once swam the English Channel, opts for swimming.
Martin Lewis, the money-saving expert, is also included, as is the Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, a survival expert who was in the SAS. His suitably adventurous list of hobbies includes “mountaineering, paragliding, sailing, yoga, martial arts”.
The 162nd annual edition of Who’s Who brings together over 33,000 personal vignettes from those whose achievements are notable in today’s society, and it also marks the start of a new decade. With almost 1000 new entries, Who’s Who 2010, published on 7th December, celebrates the diversity of human achievement, recognizing the people who have reached the pinnacle of excellence in their field. The autobiographical entries convey an enlightening and often amusing snapshot of the lives of those of enduring interest from all walks of life.
Who’s new for 2010?
Famous faces from the sporting world
One of the youngest new names is professional tennis player (ranked world number one), Roger Federer. As well as an impressive clutch of international tennis titles, he reveals that in his spare time he also finds time to enjoy golf, soccer, skiing, friends, Playstation, music and playing cards. And all this with twin daughters!
From the football world, Who’s Who 2010 welcomes David Moyes, Manager of Everton FC and Samuel Allardyce, Manager of Blackburn Rovers FC. Sadly for these two, Arsenal is the most supported team amongst this years new names (fourteen people have included the team in their recreations). A total of twenty people in Who’s Who list supporting Everton FC amongst their recreations, and seven list Blackburn Rovers.
Entertainment
Bringing a touch of glamour, are new entries from the world of entertainment. From Hollywood are actors William Bradley (Brad) Pitt and Morgan Porterfield Freeman. While actress Anna Friel and presenter and writer, Mariella Frostrup represent the ladies.
There are two comedy double-acts new for 2010: actor and presenter duo Declan Joseph Oliver Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin, and actor and writer pair Matt Lucas and David Edward Williams, better known as David Walliams. In his spare time Matt Lucas enjoys ‘eating crisps, watching football, eating chocolate, watching stage musicals, sleeping, eating crumpets’, while David Walliams is a little more active and likes to swim (he swam the Channel to raise over £1million for Sport Relief in 2006).
Ricky Dene Gervais, comedian, actor, director, producer and author is also a new name for 2010, as is writer Paulo Coelho.
Business worlds
From the business world, there is a new entry for Matthew Brittin, Managing Director of Google UK and Ireland, who is kept busy in his spare time by his climbing, cycling and swimming sons. There are also new entries for Michael Belben, restaurateur, Laura Wade-Gery, Chief Executive Officer, Tesco.com and Tesco Direct, and Evelyn Webster, Chief Executive, IPC Media Ltd.
The Old and the Young
The average age of new entrants is 52. The youngest non-hereditary new entrant is MP Chloe Smith, born in May 1982, followed by Roger Federer (August 1981) and violinist Sarah Chang (December 1980). The oldest new entrant is artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois who will celebrate her 98th birthday on Christmas Day this year.
The first edition of Who’s Who was published in 1849. Then a compact, 250-page volume (one tenth of the size of the 2010 edition), it consisted of an almanac followed by thirty-nine lists of ranks and appointments and the names of those holding them.
Since its acquisition by A&C Black in 1897, Who’s Who has consolidated its status of supreme national importance proving to be invaluable as a research tool and a unique way of measuring social change. During the Second World War Winston Churchill personally intervened to ensure its publication and full circulation was not affected by the paper shortage. Who's Who is still to this day the definitive reference book relied upon by academics, researchers, business people, government officials and charities, as well as the casual browser.
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