Top 10 Hardcore British Fandoms

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has kickstarted many a dedicated fandom, based on both the movies and the actors in them. Tom Hiddleston’s calling came when he was cast as Loki, the trickster God sharing sibling rivalry with Thor. Audiences love a good villain, and Hiddleston does it particularly well - managing to be both completely treacherous and effortlessly charming. You know you’ve got your casting right though when the baddie develops a probably bigger fan following than the eponymous hero! And Hiddleston has more than his fair share of supporters.

While shows like “The Crown” generate their own fandom potential, they just can’t hold a candle to the real thing. The British Royal Family’s forever ardent fan base has become a pretty entrenched part of the British identity, with Royal fans travelling from all over the world to stand on roadsides at weddings, jubilees and birthdays. In fact, the Royals are arguably even more popular in other countries than they are in the UK. They’ve got the drama, the grandeur and the cute dogs, what’s not to love?

Despite the fact that he has turned in a number of acclaimed performances since, most fans still know Robert Pattinson best as the “wrong place at the wrong time” Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory, or as the ever-sparkling Edward Cullen. Either way, these two roles sent Pattinson into instant super-stardom and a massive fandom developed around him. Though he may have shirked the teen heartthrob spotlight since, legions of fans are still out there, and you can bet they’re just as devoted as ever.

The upper-class English way of life has long been stereotype fodder for anyone who’s not actually from Britain. So, when “Downton Abbey” brought extravagant costumes, tea, cake and all of the British cliches you could ever imagine onto TV sets around the world, the watching masses simply ate it up. And with cast members like Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith, the whole thing just oozes with sophistication. The show has had such a cultural impact that even elements of its traditional fashion have started seeping into the mainstream. It’s called the “Downton Abbey Effect”, and we tip our hat to it.

Most successful actors gain a decent following throughout their career, but few fanbases are quite as devoted, or as uniquely terrifying, as the Cumberbitches. They may have a fairly questionable fandom name but their love is entirely unfaltering. From book signings to film premieres and chat shows, the Cumberbitches follow Benedict with fan art, fiction and fancy dress costumes. And seeing as Cumberbatch is a major player in some major film and TV franchises, the cult surrounding him is only set to grow.

When this now-iconic group formed in the late-’50s and early-’60s they quickly took the world by storm, and in doing so, were basically responsible for the first ever fandom. By 1963, Beatlemania had officially arrived; wowwing the entire world, and growing at an unprecedented rate. True, contemporary boy bands also boast insane fan bases, but most fall way short of the almost hysterical following amassed by The Beatles. At the time, there was nothing else to match it, and few cultural phenomenons have achieved comparable size or scale since.

Fuelling the only music fandom that has ever really come close to matching the intensity of Beatlemania, it’s the Directioners. The One Direction guys found fame on “The X Factor”, and earned massive worldwide interest during their time on the show. As they found their spotlight in the age of social media, the craziness that surrounded their unparalleled popularity seemed for some time inescapable. Fans were (and still are) incredibly vocal on their love for the band, with even the tiniest bit of news on any 1D member could trigger a Twitter frenzy. These boys really know how to break the internet.

The global success of “Sherlock” might’ve taken some by surprise. But Arthur Conan Doyle’s deducing detective has long proven an enigmatic character. Of course, the popularity of “Sherlock” and the love for Benedict Cumberbatch are intrinsically linked, as fans of the hit BBC series proudly describe themselves as “Sherlocked”. But Holmes and Watson have a long history of acclaimed adaptations and murky murder mysteries. Is their popularity down to the grisly crimes they deal in? The eccentric friendship they share? Or the wild fan theories they inspire? It’s all of the above, and more.

After debuting in the 60s, “Doctor Who” gained a cult following and became an increasingly prominent part of British pop culture. But the show’s popularity has truly sky-rocketed since its 2005 revival. And not just in the UK, but all around the world. After multiple incarnations of the iconic time traveller, and countless crazy adventures all across time and space, the the show’s devoted fans can happily reel off who played which Doctor, what costume they wore and who their assistant was - and most have strong opinions on which was the best “Who” era. Today, there are dedicated “Doctor Who” organisations and conventions all across the planet, all paying homage to a Time Lord in a police box.

Not just a British cultural colossus, but a worldwide obsession, this boy wizard’s global reach is second to none. With seven books, eight films, one play, a spin-off film series, two theme parks, a studio tour and countless other Potter-based attractions available to any magic-loving muggle, Harry Potter is one of the most popular media franchises of all time. And its army of loyal fans are everywhere to be seen, dressing up as favourite characters, waving personalised wands, debating on fan forums and organising Hogwarts-themed events. And while other fandoms come and go, the growth of this one still shows no signs of slowing down.