The 44-year-old from Westbourne, who is currently on International Space Station for Expedition, was placed second in a poll of 2,000 adults. The research, by charity the Festival Of Learning, was conducted to launch the 2016 Festival of Learning - an initiative from Learning and Work Institute. It found secretary-turned author J.K. Rowling to the be the most inspiring living Briton, and saddle-swapping Victoria Pendleton came third. Ex-Olympian, Eddie the Eagle was fourth and in joint fifth place were chef-turned-political campaigner Jamie Oliver and serial entrepreneur and businesswoman, Karren Brady. The poll, which aims to encourage people of all ages to take up learning, found a third of Brits have been spurred on to try their hand at something new after watching high-profile names succeed in a new career. Three quarters of those surveyed admitted to never giving up on their dream jobs. Stephen Evans, from Learning and Work Institute, said: ‘It’s great that so many people polled are inspired to learn to try new things or work toward their dream job. Learning isn’t just something that happens in a classroom, and it shouldn’t stop when you leave school.’ He called on any institution, business, individual or organisation that offers adults a chance to experience something new to list their event, course or workshop at festivaloflearning.org.uk. The top childhood dream careers voted for by Britons were: 1. Musician 2. Teacher 3= Astronaut 3= Pilot 5. Actor 6. Doctor 7. Lawyer 8. Prime Minister 9. Chef 10. Sports (various) The top 5 most inspiring Britons today according to the poll were: 1. J.K. Rowling 2. Tim Peake 3. Victoria Pendleton 4. Eddie the Eagle 5= Jamie Oliver 5= Karren Brady