Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman starred in the Batman series of films (Image: Getty)
British workers think life would be sweet under one fictional chief – after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Willy Wonka was named the UK’s ideal boss. Meanwhile, ex-Queen Vic landlord ‘Dirty’ Den Watts topped a poll of the TV bosses we’d least like to work for, according to the study by business insurance experts Premierline.
Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl’s children’s book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ was crowned top fictional boss (16%), ahead of technology guru Tony Stark from Iron Man (15%) and Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne, of Wayne Enterprises (15%). It also turns out we wouldn’t mind a stint in Peckham working in Peckham with Del Boy, owner of Only Fools and Horses’ Trotters Independent Traders coming fourth (13%) ahead of Central Perk’s Gunther from US TV show Friends (9%).
Read more: The top 20 greatest TV villains ever – and The Traitor’s Harry makes the list
Read more: The most watched soap moments in UK TV history – festive twists to huge exits
Willy Wonka would make the perfect boss (Image: Supplied)
In terms of horrible bosses, Eastenders’ character ‘Dirty’ Den Watts, played by actor Leslie Grantham, came top out of the pool of 2,000 UK adults, with 21%.
A notorious villain – known for his scheming, affairs and attempts at blackmail – Den was shot and left for dead by his wife Angie in 1989, before returning 14 years later having miraculously survived.
His second stint in Walford was just as controversial, before coming to an end in 2005 when he was murdered and buried beneath the pub by new partner Chrissie.
And perhaps it should come as no surprise he fended off competition from The Office’s David Brent (18%) and haphazard hotel aficionado Basil Fawlty (12%).
The poll was commissioned by business insurance experts Premierline, a spokesperson said: “These characters might make brilliant television, but they also highlight exactly the kind of workplace behaviour most people dread.
“From unpredictable tempers to poor decision-making and a complete lack of accountability, it’s easy to see why bosses like Dirty Den, David Brent and Basil Fawlty top the list of people Brits would least like to work for.
“In the real world, running a business comes with responsibility – not just to customers, but to staff as well. Having the right protections in place, including business insurance, helps owners manage risk, handle disputes and deal with the unexpected, allowing them to focus on creating a workplace people want to be part of.”
Fourth in the poll of horrible bosses came Mirana Priestly, from The Devil Wears Prada – played in the 2006 Hollywood film by actress Meryl Streep.
The ice-cold editor-in-chief of Runway magazine was voted for by 10%, just ahead of Betty Turpin from Coronation Street’s Rovers Return pub (9%) and Steve Coogan’s fictional TV and radio broadcaster Alan Partridge (8%).
The study went on to find that 7% of Brits hate their current boss and 97% would be happier in the workspace if they didn’t have anyone to answer to.
Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man’s Tony Stark (Image: Supplied)
TOP TEN FICTIONAL BOSSES WE’D LEAST LIKE TO WORK FOR:
Den Watts (Eastenders) – 21%
David Brent (The Office) – 18%
Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers) – 12%
Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada) – 10%
Betty Turpin (Coronation Street) – 9%
Alan Partridge (I’m Alan Partridge)– 8%
Thomas Shelby (Peaky Blinders) – 8%
Diane Sugden (Emmerdale) – 8%
Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) – 7%
Moe Szyslak (The Simpsons) – 5%
AND THE FIVE WE’D MOST LIKE TO WORK FOR:
Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) – 16%
Tony Stark (Iron Man) – 15%
Bruce Wayne (Batman) – 15%
Del Boy Trotter (Only Fools and Horses) – 13%
