Tony Edwards was sitting in a pub in 1976 when he had a thought that would, for better or worse, become a permanent fixture of British tabloid culture. He wanted a way to promote brand-name jeans. He ended up creating a national institution.
Rear of the Year isn't exactly prestigious in the way an Oscar or a BAFTA might be, but try telling that to the millions of people who click the headlines every time a new winner is announced. It is a weird, very specific slice of celebrity culture. It’s lighthearted, arguably outdated, and surprisingly resilient.
The first ever winner was Barbara Windsor. Since then, the list has grown to include soap stars, pop icons, and even members of the Royal Family—sort of.
How Rear of the Year Actually Started
Let’s be real. In the mid-seventies, marketing wasn’t about complex algorithms or influencer tiers. It was about stunts. Edwards, a publicist, realized that people liked looking at celebrities, and they liked looking at denim. He combined the two.
Initially, the award was a one-off. It didn't happen again for a few years. But by the early 80s, the momentum was unstoppable. It tapped into a specific British sense of humor—a mix of "nudge-nudge, wink-wink" seaside postcard energy and genuine celebrity worship. Suzi Quatro took the title in 1982, and suddenly, the press realized this was a goldmine for easy Sunday morning coverage.
The mechanics are pretty straightforward. It’s a public vote. People go to the official website and nominate who they think has the best... well, you know.
The Shift to Gender Neutrality
For a long time, this was a women-only club. It reflected the lad-mag culture of the era. However, in 1997, the organizers realized they were missing half the population. They introduced a male category.
Alex Carter was the first man to win. Since then, we've seen names like Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Olly Murs take the trophy. Honestly, the male winners often get more buzz these days than the female ones. It leveled the playing field and kept the award from feeling like a total relic of the 1970s.
The Pippa Middleton Effect
If you want to talk about the most famous "almost" winner, you have to talk about 2011. The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton happened. Pippa Middleton walked down the aisle in that Alexander McQueen dress.
The internet exploded.
She didn't actually win Rear of the Year that year—it went to Carol Vorderman. But the public obsession with Pippa’s silhouette basically saved the award from obscurity. It proved that the public interest in this specific aesthetic niche was still massive. It also sparked a massive debate about whether the award was "body positive" or just plain creepy.
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Vorderman winning was a turning point, too. She won again in 2014, becoming the first person to take the title twice. It showed that the "Rear of the Year" wasn't just for 20-year-old starlets; it was celebrating fitness and confidence in women over 50.
Does Anyone Actually Care Anymore?
You’d think in the era of modern fitness culture and social media, a physical-attribute award would be canceled.
It hasn't been.
Instead, it has evolved into a sort of "fitness and health" badge. Winners often use the platform to talk about their gym routines or how they stay in shape. Kym Marsh and Amanda Holden have both been recipients, and they used the moment to highlight their dedication to Pilates and healthy living.
Critics call it objectification. Supporters call it a bit of fun.
The reality is usually somewhere in the middle. Most celebrities take it with a pinch of salt. It’s a "nice to have" on the CV that guarantees a few days of trending on Twitter (or X, if you must).
Why the Public Still Votes
People love a list. They love an opinion.
There's a psychological element to why these awards persist. It’s an easy conversation starter. It’s harmless compared to the harsher critiques celebrities face on Instagram comments. Also, the winners are usually genuinely popular people. You don't win Rear of the Year if the public hates you. It’s secretly a popularity contest disguised as a physique competition.
Real Facts and Winners You Might Have Forgotten
Not everyone who wins is a household name forever. Some are flashes in the pan.
- 1985: Anneka Rice. This was peak Treasure Hunt era. She was famous for running around in jumpsuits. It made perfect sense.
- 2002: Charlotte Church. This caused a bit of a stir because she was quite young at the time, highlighting the changing boundaries of what the public deemed "appropriate" for the award.
- 2010: Fiona Bruce. A BBC newsreader! This was a huge deal because it broke the "glamour model" mold and moved into the "respected professional" territory.
- 2019: Amanda Holden and Dan Walker. A very "daytime TV" year.
The diversity of winners—from newsreaders to pop stars—is what keeps the Google searches high. People are always surprised by who is on the list.
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The Logistics of Winning
What do you actually get?
It’s not like the Oscars where you get a gold statue and a multi-million dollar film deal. Usually, there’s a trophy. There’s a photoshoot—often involving jeans, naturally.
But the real prize is the SEO. For a B-list or C-list celebrity, winning Rear of the Year is a career booster. It leads to fitness DVDs (back when those were a thing), brand deals with supplement companies, or a stint on a reality show like I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
A Change in Perspective: Body Positivity
The 2020s have been weird for the award. With the rise of the "BBL era" and then the subsequent move back toward "heroin chic" or "Ozempic thinness," the Rear of the Year has had to navigate tricky waters.
Organizers have tried to distance the award from "perfection." They’ve started emphasizing that the award is about "proportions" and "natural" looks. Whether the public buys that is another story.
Interestingly, the award hasn't been handed out every single year recently. The pandemic put a damper on the usual ceremony and photoshoot. But the "virtual" interest never dipped. People still search for who would have won.
Expert Nuance: Is it Outdated?
Let’s be honest. If you tried to launch Rear of the Year today, you’d probably get laughed out of the room. It’s a product of 1970s Britain.
However, because it has history, it gets a pass. It’s grandfathered into the culture. It occupies the same space as the "World Gurning Championships" or "Cheese Rolling." It’s a bit eccentric.
The nuance lies in how the winners react. Almost all of them treat it as a laugh. They don't take it seriously, so the public doesn't either. The moment a winner takes it too seriously is the moment the award dies.
What This Says About British Culture
Britain has a weird relationship with the body. It’s a mix of Victorian repression and "Carry On" film bawdiness.
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Rear of the Year is the ultimate expression of that. It’s "naughty" but safe. It’s something you can read about in a tabloid while eating your breakfast and not feel like you’re doing something scandalous.
It also reflects the British love for an underdog. Often, the winners aren't the most "perfect" specimens by Hollywood standards, but they are people the public finds "approachable" or "fit."
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're following the trajectory of celebrity branding or just curious about how these awards impact a career, here are the takeaways:
1. Longevity requires adaptation. The award survived by adding men to the mix and shifting the narrative from "sexy" to "fit and healthy." If it had stayed stuck in 1976, it would have been gone by 1990.
2. Public voting is a branding tool. If you are a rising public figure, being associated with "light" awards like this can humanize you. It shows you don't take yourself too seriously.
3. Look at the data. The winners of these awards often correlate with who is about to have a big year in television or music. It’s a leading indicator of public sentiment.
4. Context is everything. The award works in the UK because of a specific cultural history. Attempting to export the "Rear of the Year" brand to more conservative or differently-minded markets often fails because the "nudge-nudge" humor doesn't translate.
5. Stay skeptical of "The Best." Remember that these are subjective, PR-driven events. They are designed to sell newspapers and jeans. Use them as entertainment, not as a standard for body image or success.
Keep an eye on the mid-year announcements. Usually, the buzz starts building around June or July. If you’re looking to see who the next "it" person in British media is, the nominations list is usually a pretty good place to start your search. Look for the names that keep appearing in the "long list" of nominations; those are the people the PR machines are currently pushing into the spotlight.
Ultimately, Rear of the Year is a testament to the fact that some traditions, no matter how silly they seem, are woven too tightly into the fabric of pop culture to be easily removed. It’s a bit of fun, a bit of a relic, and a whole lot of Britishness.