A nationwide poll* has revealed the tactics that Brits are using to get through the coronavirus self-isolation and social distancing period, with daytime naps, jigsaw puzzles, writing novels and Italian-style, socially-distanced balcony get-togethers in the top 25.
However, it’s reading that’s got the nation hooked, with 46% of Brits picking up a book, ahead of watching the TV (45%) and getting the latest news (44%)**.
The poll of 2,000 people, by ticket provider StubHub UK, revealed that the British public are already missing going to live gigs, sports matches and theatre, with 82% of people keen to resume going to either the same amount of – or more – events once it is safe to do so.
When asked why, 37% said they’re keen to have more shared experiences, while 44% said watching something live in-person is better than seeing it on a screen. A massive 41% admitted that they miss the atmosphere of the crowd.
However, resourceful Brits have found a variety of innovative solutions to cure their boredom, with 68% streaming content at the same time as family and friends or planning to do so in the near future.
Some 69% have watched live music clips or performances, with Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Adele and Beyonce topping the list of artists that are getting Brits through a tough time.
When it comes to sports, 54% said they plan to watch old football matches (the average Brit will watch six games, the top 2% of football fans will watch a massive 30 matches) or other sports now that the vast majority of live games have been cancelled or postponed.
The sports events Brits miss the most are the Euros (12% will miss it the most out of every sports event), the Premier League (11%), Six Nations rugby (7%) and Formula One (6%).
Glastonbury (14%), The Eurovision Song Contest (10%) and Radio 1’s Big Weekend (4%) topped the list of the most-missed gigs, though a remarkable 15% of Brits said they were ‘glad’ Glastonbury had cancelled, either because they ‘don’t like it’ (8%) or it ‘takes up too much of the TV schedule’ (7%).
While most Brits said they could tolerate just 11 weeks of isolation, a remarkable 8% said they preferred their way of life in self-isolation to the way it was before, while 19% had ‘no preference’.
The top 20 artists Brits are watching concerts and clips of during self-quarantine, self-isolation or social distancing:
1 – Ed Sheeran
2 – Taylor Swift
3 – Adele
4 – Beyonce
5 – Lewis Capaldi
6 – Oasis
7 – Lady Gaga
8 – Harry Styles
9 – George Ezra
10 – Drake
11 – Justin Bieber
12 – Stormzy
13 – Dua Lipa
14 – Ariana Grande
15 – Katy Perry
16 – Post Malone
17 – Tom Walker
18 – Shawn Mendes
19 – Camila Cabello
20 – BTS
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StubHub’s FanProtect promise means that every resale order is protected by the FanProtect Guarantee, meaning that fans will receive genuine tickets or a comparable replacement ticket, or their money back.
