Major outshines Hollywood hunk

John Major is more famous than Tom Cruise or The Queen according to psychologists studying celebrity status.

A large-scale survey of undergraduates in Nottingham reveals that the top ten famous names include Margaret Thatcher and Brad Pitt but not Tony Blair. Even Chris Evans gets a mention as the ninth most famous person with Mr Blair trailing in 14th place behind Liam and Noel Gallagher.

The survey has a serious purpose according to its co-author, Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University. "Despite the public's and the media's fascination with celebrities there is a surprising dearth of psychological research in the field," Dr Griffiths said.

His psychology of fame project will attempt to define fame and its psychological implications.

The first step was an interview with public relations guru Max Clifford, whose assessment of fame was rather gloomy: "Its an addiction, a craving, it varies from individual to individual, it's the same as drugs or alcohol or anything else but at its worse - and I've known a lot of the worst - it literally takes over your life, your philosophy, your outlook on everyday life."

Dr Griffiths already has a wealth of experience in the psychology of addictions such as gambling. The problem with fame is that the more famous people become, the more likely they are to become isolated from friends and loved ones. According to Mr Clifford life becomes increasingly empty and when the fame goes they can't handle it. That's when they call in the publicist to get them back in the headlines.

Dr Griffiths and Adam Joinson of Glamorgan University intend to find out why, given this seemingly inevitable downward spiral, so many individuals crave fame.

Dr Griffiths admits to keeping a detailed daily diary just on the off chance that he should get his 15 minutes of fame and Hello magazine comes knocking on his door.

Individuals famous for being famous are on the up, he says. "Old-fashioned celebrity was simply the due regard for achievement or social status. Whereas in the past celebrity followed achievement it can now be the other way round, for example Liz Hurley."

However, reassuringly, today's celebrity "A" list survives mostly unchanged. If you are brilliant in your chosen field says Dr Griffiths, fame will find you out.

The undergraduate survey reveals as much about the respondents as the celebrities. Pamela Anderson for instance only makes it into the male top ten famous names. Women seem to think Michael Jackson is more famous than Princess Diana. The over 30s give Elvis Presley and Bill Clinton a mention.

And the most famous person in the world, according to Max Clifford? Adolf Hitler.

The project's psychology of fame website is at http://www.glam. ac.uk/schools/humanities/psychology/fame/home.htm