- 8.3 million Brits admit they’d cheat to win a Guinness World Record
- Almost a third of Brits think achieving a world record is more about luck than hard work
- People from Manchester are most likely to admit to cheating to get in the record books – followed closely by Belfast
A whopping 8.3 million Brits admit they’d cheat to break a Guinness World Record if they could get away with it, according to a new survey.
The research, by Paddy Power Bingo, quizzed the nation on their attitudes towards world records ahead of Guinness World Record Day on November 21st, with 12% of the public confessing they’d act dishonestly if it meant they’d secure the accolade.
It turns out that those in Manchester are the biggest cheaters in the land, with 18% confessing they would break any rules to obtain a world record. Mancunians are closely followed by residents in Belfast (17%), and those from Leicester and London (both 15%) on who would cheat their way to a record.
TOP FIVE UK CITIES WHO WOULD CHEAT TO BREAK A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD:
|
Rank |
City |
Percentage of people that would cheat |
|
1 |
Manchester |
18% |
|
2 |
Belfast |
17% |
|
=3 |
London |
15% |
|
=3 |
Leicester |
15% |
|
5 |
Cambridge |
14% |
When it comes to the more niche Guinness World Records, like owning the largest traffic cone collection or blowing the biggest bubble-gum bubble, over three and a half million Brits (5%) respect these champions more than their own loved ones.
The survey also quizzed people on how they’d react to breaking a Guinness World Record, with 3% admitting they’d buy themselves something nice, such as a holiday or jewellery.
Some Brits admit they would get so carried away with their World Record status, they’d go as far as buying themselves a trophy (2%), or even attempt to become a celebrity/influencer off the success (2%). 1% of the nation would even legally change their name to reflect their prestigious Guinness World Record holder status.
Not all Brits however are convinced that getting your hands on a record is actually that meaningful, with almost a third (31%) of Brits believing that getting your name inscribed in the book of records is purely down to luck, and nothing to do with talent or hard work.
Paddy Power Bingo spokesperson, Paddy Power said: “The saying goes that winners never cheat, and cheaters never win – but eight million of us seem to be happy to disregard this and cheat our way to a Guinness World Record.
“Either way, it’s clear that Brits clearly value holding a World Record very highly – and will clearly do anything they can to achieve one!”
Author: Adam Greenham
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