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Hitchcock, Chaplin, Tussaud in the run for new face of 20 pound bill

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ANI London

Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin and Marie Tussaud are among many others being considered to be the face of 20 pound note.

People have put forward hundreds of international notable figures of visual arts to replace economist Adam Smith on the notes, with fashion designer Alexander McQueen, author and illustrator Beatrix Potter and sci-fi puppet show 'Thunderbirds' creator Gerry Anderson also in the list.

Bank of England had, for the very first time, asked for the public's opinion on who should appear on the note, after which 436 eligible contenders emerged from around 19,000 nominations, the Guardian reported.

The bank will now shortlist of three to five names, and the final decision will be made by its governor, Mark Carney, which will be announced in spring 2016, alongside a concept image showing the portrait as it will appear on the note.

 

Chief cashier Victoria Cleland said that fact that so many visual artists had been put forward underlines the extent of British achievement in the visual arts and reinforces why the field deserved to be recognised on the next 20 pound note.

Out of the 436 candidates, only 90 are women.

In July 2013, Jane Austen was confirmed as the next face of the 10 pound note after campaigners demanded female representation, aside from the Queen on the country's cash.

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First Published: Jul 21 2015 | 12:55 PM IST

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