Of course the dads we fancy the most are the ones we choose as our partners – the ones who take out the rubbish, tell the bedtime stories, give us a night off to see our friends. But we can’t help but notice there are some quite alluring other dads out there as well.
So in honour of Father’s Day - and in a fit of patriotism - here is our list (in no particular order) of Britain’s foxiest fathers, with an Irish nominee as well. How do these dads rate with you?
1. Pierce Brosnan – Two other James Bonds have made our list, but mention Brosnan among a group of mums and they practically drop their Champagne flutes. Beyond 007, his Thomas Crowne – fabulously weathly, devilishly sneaky, impossibly fit - is drool-worthy even more than a decade later.
2. Sean Connery – His appeal – like his Scottish accent – never fades. Connery Forever.
3. Damian Lewis – Only four per cent of people have naturally red hair and how many look like Lewis? If you see another one, text us.
4. Dan Stevens – Matthew Crawley (pictured) is a shining light of decency in Downton Abbey; the actor who plays him is even taller and more charming in person...and a new dad! (The BritMums team met him at Sarah Brown's book launch earlier this year. Not that we're rubbing it in.) Charlie Brooker has called him “a muppet-baby incarnation of Hugh Grant”. Oooh yes.
5. Rufus Sewell – With that luscious black hair, chiseled cheekbones and slightly strange voice, Sewell gets better with age. His television miniseries Zen reignited an appreciation dormant since A Knight’s Tale.
6. Jude Law – Long beautiful, he’s recently taken on a maturity, especially with the excellent acting by his facial hair in Sherlock Holmes. Is it enough to overcome that whole “sleeping with the nanny” thing?
7. Jason Isaacs – Get a few drinks into one friend and she fans herself at the mention of Isaacs, the tough guy detective in Case Histories. The father of two was also compelling as the evil Hook in 2003’s Peter Pan. That gravelly voice cinches it.
8. Jeremy Paxman – One for the well-read crowd. Just imagine the grilling that this father of three could give you.
9. Jarvis Cocker – Quirky. Talented. Perhaps a little bit strange in very good ways. Does he keep his glasses on, we wonder?
10. Daniel Craig –Forget the swimsuit shot from Casino Royale. We’ll take Craig fully dressed and sensitive in the shower any day of the week.
11. Rupert Penry-Jones – The former Spooks star was the most celebrated beefcake a few years ago, but he splits the vote among fellow mums. Pros: Intensity. Cons: Some say not as good-looking in the playground as on the telly. Where do you come down on this pressing issue?
12. Colin Farrell – Farrell was once named one of People Magazine’s most beautiful people and we have to agree. There’s something about that stubble, that bed hair, that perhaps reformed bad boy way of life…
13. David Beckham – As long as he’s wearing formfitting pants and “doesn’t speak”, one friend says.
14. Matthew Macfadyen – “Now, you’re talking!” exclaimed one friend at the mention of Macdadyen. His Mr Darcy was all wet (and not in that Colin Firth way), but the sensitive lips and mournful gaze? We’ll make it all better….
15. Orlando Bloom – Will Turner played straight man to Capt. Jack Sparrow but recently papped pictures of the new dad show he’s, ahem, matured.
Who are your fave British dads? Is there somebody obvious we've left off the list?
