Sir Winston Churchill and other historic figures currently featured on British banknotes are set to be replaced by wildlife under plans announced by the Bank of England following a nationwide public consultation.
The central bank confirmed that future designs for £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes will focus on animals, birds and other aspects of the natural world, marking a significant departure from more than half a century of celebrating historical personalities on UK currency.
Figures who could eventually disappear from circulation include the wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, novelist Jane Austen, landscape painter JMW Turner, and mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing.
While the historical portraits will gradually be phased out, the monarch will continue to appear on the reverse side of all British banknotes.
The shift follows a major public consultation conducted by the Bank of England to determine what theme should appear on the next generation of banknotes.
According to the bank, more than 44,000 people took part in the consultation, with around 60 per cent of respondents selecting nature and wildlife as their preferred theme for future notes.
Other themes considered included architecture and landmarks (56 per cent), historical figures (38 per cent), arts, culture and sport (30 per cent), innovation (23 per cent) and notable milestones (19 per cent).
Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, said the redesign was primarily driven by security considerations but also offered an opportunity to showcase British identity in a different way.
“The key driver for introducing a new banknote series is always to increase counterfeit resilience,” she said. “But it also provides an opportunity to celebrate different aspects of the UK. Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective and means we can showcase the UK’s rich and varied wildlife.”
The Bank of England said nature-themed imagery offers advantages in combating counterfeiting, as detailed illustrations of animals, birds and landscapes are harder to reproduce illegally.
Future notes will incorporate the latest anti-counterfeiting technology alongside complex visual designs, making them more secure than existing polymer banknotes.
The redesign process is expected to take several years, with the new series unlikely to enter circulation until the late 2020s after extensive testing, design development and manufacturing preparations.
An expert panel has been assembled to create a shortlist of wildlife species that could feature on the new banknotes before the final selection is put to a public vote.
The panel includes wildlife filmmakers and presenters Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Nadeem Perera, alongside conservation specialists including Katy Bell of Ulster Wildlife and academics Steve Ormerod and Dawn Scott.
The group will identify animals and natural scenes that reflect the diversity of ecosystems across the UK’s four nations.
Perera said wildlife is deeply intertwined with British identity and culture.
“The wildlife of the UK is not separate from our culture, it sits in our football crests, our folklore, our coastlines and our childhoods,” he said. “Giving it space on something as symbolic as our currency feels both overdue and significant.”
Despite the changes to the reverse side of the notes, the monarch will continue to appear on the front of all Bank of England currency.
Royal portraits have featured on British coins for more than 1,000 years, while Queen Elizabeth II appeared on banknotes from the 1960s onwards.
The Bank confirmed that the new designs will maintain this longstanding tradition.
The Bank of England has previously faced criticism over the lack of diversity among the figures featured on its notes.
Since historical personalities were first introduced to banknotes in 1970, none have represented Black or ethnic minority figures.
The move toward nature-themed imagery avoids debates about which historical figures should be included and instead highlights national landscapes and wildlife.
Future designs may also incorporate plants, habitats and landscapes alongside animals to create more complex and distinctive visual themes.
The development of a new banknote series is a lengthy process involving design competitions, security testing and approval by the Bank of England’s leadership.
The shortlist of wildlife candidates is expected to be unveiled later this year, with final approval resting with Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England.
Once the design process is complete, the notes will enter a testing and printing phase before being gradually introduced into circulation.
If approved, the next generation of British currency will represent a dramatic visual change, replacing some of the country’s most recognisable historical portraits with images of the natural world.
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Churchill to be replaced by wildlife on future Bank of England banknotes