Rear of the Year was a British award for celebrities who were considered to have attractive buttocks. It was created by publicity consultant Anthony Edwards in 1976. Initially, it was awarded only to women, but in 1986 the first award was made to a man and from 1997, it was awarded annually to one woman and one man.

The award was organised by Rear of the Year Limited. The last contest was held in 2019, and Rear of the Year Limited was dissolved as a company in 2021.

History

Edwards initiated the award as a way to promote specific brands of jeans. Barbara Windsor won the first award in 1976, The 1982 winner, Suzi Quatro, commented: "I’ve been told since I was about eight or nine that I had a nice ass... So, when I won the award, I was actually quite proud." In 1986, the award was presented to a man for the first time (Michael Barrymore)

2010 winner Fiona Bruce accepted the award and participated in a photoshoot, happily posing for pictures in tight jeans. However, she subsequently described the award as "the most hypocritical, ridiculous, ludicrous thing I’ve ever done."

Award winners were given a commemorative plaque

  • 1976 — Barbara Windsor
  • 1981 — Felicity Kendal
  • 1982 — Suzi Quatro
  • 1983 — Lulu
  • 1984 — Elaine Paige
  • 1985 — Lynsey de Paul
  • 1986 — Anneka Rice and Michael Barrymore
  • 1987 — Anita Dobson
  • 1988 — Su Pollard
  • 1989 — No competition
  • 1990 — No competition
  • 1991 — Marina Ogilvy
  • 1992 — Ulrika Jonsson
  • 1993 — Sarah Lancashire
  • 1994 — Mandy Smith and Richard Fairbrass
  • 1995 — No competition
  • 1996 — Tracy Shaw
  • 1997 — Melinda Messenger and Gary Barlow
  • 1998 — Carol Smillie and Frank Skinner
  • 1999 — Denise van Outen and Robbie Williams
  • 2000 — Jane Danson and Graham Norton
  • 2001 — Claire Sweeney and John Altman
  • 2002 — Charlotte Church and Scott Wright
  • 2003 — Natasha Hamilton and Ronan Keating
  • 2004 — Alex Best and Aled Haydn Jones
  • 2005 — Nell McAndrew and Will Young
  • 2006 — Javine Hylton and Ian Wright
  • 2007 — Siân Lloyd and Lee Mead
  • 2008 — Jennifer Ellison and Ryan Thomas
  • 2009 — Rachel Stevens and Russell Watson
  • 2010 — Fiona Bruce and Ricky Whittle
  • 2011 — Carol Vorderman and Anton du Beke
  • 2012 — Shobna Gulati and John Barrowman
  • 2013 — Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone
  • 2014 — Carol Vorderman and Olly Murs
  • 2015 — Kym Marsh and Daniel Radcliffe
  • 2016 — Jennifer Metcalfe and Tom Hiddleston
  • 2017 — Rachel Riley and Idris Elba
  • 2018 — Michelle Keegan and Aidan Turner
  • 2019 — Amanda Holden and Andy Murray

Similar contests

  • In 2013, a University of Cambridge newspaper held its own version of the award in which the contestants were naked.
  • Miss Bumbum is an annual contest in Brazil to choose the best female buttocks in the country.

References

  • Official website