Sir Winston Churchill and other historical figures currently featured on British banknotes are set to be replaced by wildlife under plans announced by the Bank of England following a nationwide public consultation.
The central bank confirmed that future designs of the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes will focus on animals, birds and other aspects of the natural world, a significant departure from more than half a century of celebrating historical figures on Britain's currency.
Celebrities who may eventually disappear from circulation include wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, novelist Jane Austen, landscape painter JMW Turner and mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing.
While the historical portraits will gradually be phased out, the monarch will continue to appear on the reverse of all British banknotes.
The change follows a major public consultation conducted by the Bank of England to determine what theme should appear on the next generation of banknotes.
According to the bank, more than 44,000 people participated in the consultation, with nearly 60 per cent of respondents choosing nature and wildlife as their favorite topic for future notes.
Other topics considered included architecture and landmarks (56 percent), historical figures (38 percent), arts, culture and sports (30 percent), innovation (23 percent) and notable milestones (19 percent).
Victoria Cleland, Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, said that the new design was driven primarily by security considerations, but it also provided an opportunity to display British identity in a different way.
“The main objective of introducing a new banknote series is always to increase the resilience of counterfeit notes,” he said. “But it also provides an opportunity to celebrate different aspects of the UK. Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective and means we can showcase the UK's rich and diverse wildlife.”
The Bank of England said that nature-themed imagery offers an advantage in combating counterfeiting, as detailed depictions of animals, birds and landscapes are harder to reproduce illegally.
Future notes will feature intricate visual designs as well as the latest anti-counterfeiting technology, making them more secure than existing polymer banknotes.
The redesign process is expected to take several years, with the new series not expected to enter circulation until the late 2020s after extensive testing, design development and manufacturing preparations.
An expert panel has been assembled to prepare a shortlist of wildlife species that could be featured on the new bank notes before the final selection is put to a public vote.
The panel includes wildlife filmmakers and presenters Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Nadeem Perera, as well as conservation experts including Ulster Wildlife's Katy Bell and academics Steve Ormerod and Don Scott.
The group will identify animals and landscapes that reflect the diversity of ecosystems across the four countries of the UK.
Perera said wildlife is deeply linked to British identity and culture.
He said, “Britain's wildlife is not separate from our culture, it inhabits our football summits, our folklore, our beaches and our childhoods.” “Putting it on something as symbolic as our currency feels both overdue and important.”
Despite changes to the reverse of the notes, all Bank of England currency will continue to feature the monarch.
Royal portraits have appeared on British coins for over 1,000 years, while Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on banknotes since the 1960s.
The bank confirmed that the new design will maintain this long-standing tradition.
The Bank of England has previously faced criticism over the lack of diversity in the data printed on its notes.
Since historical figures were first introduced to banknotes in 1970, none have represented black or ethnic minority figures.
The move toward nature-themed imagery avoids debate over which historical figures should be included and instead highlights national landscapes and wildlife.
Future designs may incorporate animals as well as plants, habitats, and landscapes to create more complex and distinct visual themes.
The development of the new banknote series is a lengthy process involving design competitions, security testing and approval by the leadership of the Bank of England.
A shortlist of wildlife candidates is expected to be unveiled later this year, with final approval dependent on Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.
Once the design process is complete, the notes will enter the testing and printing phase before gradually entering circulation.
If approved, the next generation of British currency would represent a dramatic visual change, replacing some of the country's most recognizable historical images with images of the natural world.
jamie young
Jamie is a senior reporter at Business Matters, with over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting. Jamie has a degree in Business Administration and regularly attends industry conferences and workshops. When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring emerging journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.