BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

The cult of Curtice: social media love for polling guru

  • Published
    9 June 2017
Share page
About sharing
Tweet: "CURTICE DEPLOYED"Image source, @estwebber
BySam Bright
BBC Trending

A mild-mannered number-cruncher has become the surprise celebrity on a tense election night.

John Curtice, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde, has been relied on by the BBC as a key source of polling wisdom throughout the general election campaign. However, his social media fame reached a peak on election night, with his name regularly appearing on the UK top trends list.

  • Election results live updates

  • What happens if no-one wins the election?

  • Full UK results breakdown, external

  • Find the result where you live, external

Even before polls closed, Twitter users were unable to hide their excitement at Curtice's upcoming TV appearances.

Poem, celebrating John CurticeImage source, @jpshaddock

Someone has even created a Twitter page, external, designed to monitor and celebrate Curtice's TV appearances. The page, simply called, "Is John Curtice on TV", was started in April and has nearly 8,000 followers.

Tweet, with a picture of John Curtice, saying "At last"Image source, @JohnCurticeOnTV

Curtice is being followed closely by his Twitter fans. There has even been speculation about why he's been allocated a balcony on the BBC's election programme.

Tweet, saying that Curtice and Dimbleby are recreating Romeo and JulietImage source, @grayinglasgow
line

More from BBC Trending

'Hung Parliament' trends in Britain

Visit the Trending Facebook page, external

line
Tweet, saying that Curtice is "surveying the chaos below"Image source, @jack_murley

On Wednesday, Curtice was quoted, external by the New Statesman, saying "I've no wish to become a media celebrity". It seems as though Twitter has other ideas.

Blog by Sam Bright

Top stories

  • Trump hails 'very good' relationship as he arrives in UK for state visit

    • Published
      2 hours ago
  • 'Completely different, yet genuinely get on' - BBC correspondents on Starmer and Trump

    • Published
      8 hours ago
  • Eritrean man wins block on removal to France under 'one in, one out' deal

    • Published
      5 hours ago

More to explore

  • 'The ego has landed' and 'Don in... none out'

    The front page of the Daily Mirror and Metro in a composite image. "The ego has landed" reads the headline on the front page of the former and "Don in... none out" reads the headline on the front page of the latter.
  • Trump, Air Force One and the Beast are coming. Here's what the president is bringing

    Donald Trump waves as his black, bulletproof car is seen behind him with small USA flags attached to the bonnet.
  • Robert Redford: An enthralling star with an aura that lit up Hollywood

    Robert Redford is seen in later life.  He is smiling and looking slightly off camera.
  • 'The bombing has been insane': Palestinians scramble to flee Israeli assault on Gaza City

    A man with a bandaged hand steers the handlebars of a bicycle while two small children lie on the front bars and seat. Some bags hang from the bike's handlebars as they journey in the night, with a bright light shining on to them.
  • Bowen: UN commission report on genocide is blunt indictment of Israel's actions in Gaza

    Women cry as they mourn the death of a loved one killed during overnight Israeli bombardment on June 12, 2025, at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group.
  • Trump's state visit is mired with potential pitfalls despite careful planning

    A treated image showing Sir Keir and King Charles as smaller figures walking and to the right a larger image of President Trump smiling
  • How long can the UK afford the pension triple lock?

    A medium close up of Glenys in a ballet studio. She is smiling wearing a black t-shirt with the polished wooden floor and a large mirror of the studio in soft focus in the background.
  • Mason: Reform UK amplifies jitters for Labour and Conservatives

    A composite image shows (left to right) Keir Starmer, a grey-haired man in a black jacket and black tie speaks in front of a red backdrop. Kemi Badenoch, a woman with dark braids tied back from her face speaks in front of a union jack. Nigel Farage, a man with grey hair and a purple striped tie speaks in front of a turquoise backdrop.
  • These teens turned their rooms into tech-free zones. This was the result

    A teenage boy stands infront of door with the sign 'tech free zone' attached. He looks unhappy and is pointing downwards with his thumb.
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    'The ego has landed' and 'Don in... none out'

  2. 2

    Trump hails 'very good' relationship as he arrives in UK for state visit

  3. 3

    Charlie Kirk suspect confessed in hidden note to roommate, prosecutors allege

  4. 4

    Eritrean man wins block on removal to France under 'one in, one out' deal

  5. 5

    Two Labour MPs denied entry to Israel

  6. 6

    Acting legend Robert Redford dies aged 89

  7. 7

    'Heartbroken isn't the word' - Hatton son's tribute

    • Attribution
      Sport
  8. 8

    AI could boost UK economy by 10% in five years, says Microsoft boss

  9. 9

    King at Duchess of Kent's funeral but ill Queen did not attend

  10. 10

    Triathlete ready to face life with no limbs after sepsis

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Rob and Rylan embark on their own passage to India

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Rob & Rylan's Passage to India
  • What drives young women to risk it all in the MMA cage?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Girl Fight
  • The life of Gordon Welchman, a WW2 codebreaking hero

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Bletchley Park: Codebreaking's Forgotten Genius
  • A night of frighteningly great film music

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    BBC Proms
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.