The only one out of Blur that isn't intrinsically slappable. Referred to round our gaff as 'Uncle' Graham.

Also, Nick Frost, Robert Smith and *ahem* Sarah Chalke *ahem*

Plus I'd like to add Stuart Murdoch and Isobel Campbell. However, probably not at the same time, and please don't tell either of them I'd like to hug the other if you happen to see them, I hear they're not on the best of terms.

A proper gent.

whoops, sorry wrong thread!

hope that's ok

Roy Kinnear - always came across as a lovely bloke
John Peel
Mark Ellen - not crawling - just comes over as a nice, friendly chap (unlike Dave 'darkside' Hepworth - heh heh)
Craig Cash
Kate Bush
Spencer Tracy - loveable big lug
Bill Bailey
Winona Ryder
Henri Matisse
David Hockney
Jack Kirby - for the Fantastic Four and everything else

of course in a strictly heterosexual manly back-slapping, talk about footie and real ale, no tongues kind of way...ahem.

I'll get my coat...

Kate Mossman - while she isn't clutching her mandolin.

My rage it dissipates!

Billy Bragg- saw him at Camp Bestival this year. A true professional, worked the crowd beautifully, intelligent, funny. Someone has him in the slap list but I must protest and put him here.

Stephen Fry- So lovely he has to have proxy friends on facebook

Mama Cass from The Mamas and the Papas- ok she's dead but every time I read something about her she seems more and more like the nicest person in the history of music

Adam and Joe- for weaning me off Jonathan Ross on a Saturday morning

The entire Daily Show team- I love you all

Asmah Mir from 5Live news at midday- no idea what she looks like but she sounds lovely

Robert Wyatt- greatest living Englishman?

Alan Bennett - maybe he's actually the greatest living Englishman

Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo - just tune in on Friday, they're great.

Jenny Lewis - cos I have a raging crush on her. No other reason really.

.. and we can all tell him that it might never happen...

That was my logic. That and he does get (euphamism alert)cuddlier by the year.

What a miserable bunch we are.

Anyway, more hugs going out to...

Peter Green
Brian Wilson
Seasick Steve

Come on - spread the love, massive!

You feel me?

Clive James
Nina from The Cardigans

Neil Hannon
Monty Don
Rory Bremner
Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan (of Still Game fame)
Viggo Mortensen

...for Robbie Coltrane.

(I reckon it'll take about four of us).

If I can substitute a hug for a firm handshake and some guarded banter about sport and the roadworks on the A127, I would like the following people to be taken into consideration:

Steve Irwin: The animal kingdom’s PR man. His boisterous TV persona over-shadowed a tremendous knowledge of the natural world. His legacy will be huge.

The itinerant zombie horde at the end of Land of the Dead: All they wanted was to shamble around replaying the roles they had occupied in life. Instead their simple, almost childlike love of firework displays was exploited by the living, who are, without a doubt, the true villains of this film.

JK Rowling: For not talking down to children. If you strip away the magic and the derivative fantasy elements that litter her books there are some very stark core messages: Adults, even those you admire, are fallible and will sometimes behave in a less than noble fashion; you will have to make hard choices and then live with the consequences of your decisions; death, when it comes, is frequently sudden, random and lacking in gravitas; Although you may think that you are, in some way, special and ear-marked for greatness, the reality is that you just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Robin Proper-Sheppard: Late of The God Machine; now recording as Sophia. There’s a struggle to express himself in his lyrics that occasionally manifests as clumsiness. I’ll happily take that over more articulate talents who are content to coast along inside their comfort zone.

Roy Batty: The sociopathic replicant from Bladerunner. We share things in common: Our fast-track physical deterioration, a desire to know what our expiry dates might be, and a willingness to turn up at god’s house after hours and gouge his eyeballs out with our thumbs.

John Densmore: Drummer with The Doors. Now waging a campaign against his fellow bandmates to protect the integrity of music whose intangible value can only be harmed by being harnessed to commercial interests. For the moment I will overlook those revisionist 21st century remixes of The Doors back catalogue.

Ted Hughes: The drip-drip of negative publicity from the Sylvia Plath contingent has painted him as the villain of their partnership. It’s an unfair portrait of the man. Few others have observed the world around them with such keen insight.

Paddington Bear: The undisputed master of the disapproving “hard stare”. A connoisseur of marmalade, and latterly marmite, sandwiches. Things would be so much better if he were Prime Minister.

Raymond Briggs
Lorraine Kelly
Gordon Brown
Stevie Nicks
Kylie
Lovely, smiley old man on Antiques Roadshow
Don Martin (MAD cartoonist)

I don't need a reason.

As far as I am concerned this bloke is something of a hero in the modern world of sleb.
Putting his time and money where his mouth is and getting a lot of flak for his troubles.

Yes he's getting publicity, yes he's selling a few books but give the man a break.

I am waiting for his new, idiots guide to cooking arriving via amazon. He has succeeded in making me, a confirmed idle lazy git, want to be a better (or even competent) cook. I am manipulated too easily.

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Van Der Graaf Generator
Gabriel-era Genesis
Kaiser Chiefs
Stackridge
Blondie
Mud
and Girls Aloud just to make you all jealous

Guy Garvey - see various previous posts
Kolo Toure - as my son says, he's just so smiley
Sandi Toksvig - she's cool and uncool at the same time
Adrian Chiles - clever man
Liz Frazer - but I'd be afraid I'd break her in some way

And if I can nick one of Backwards7's, JK Rowling - for making kids want to read again

Paul Whitehouse - especially if he's in Ron Manager mode. He really will make the most perfect grandad one day.
E from the Eels - having read his book he certainly deserves one.
Ian Dury - just so joyous and warm.
Jarvis Cocker - pure hero-worship for me.
Richard Hawley - the cool uncle.
Johnny Ball - the fun, silly uncle.
Ron Mael - I've rarely see a man who looks more in need of a hug.
Emo Philips - see Ron Mael.

And *ahem* Anna Friel (might take my time over this one).

I'll have to give this some serious thought, but I can say off the top of my head that I'm privileged to have shared a hug with Clint Boon and a firm Lancastrian handshake with Guy Garvey. Marvellous men both.

Oh and seeing backwards7 nominate Ted Hughes makes me think that there can't be many who needed a hug more than Philip Larkin, although characteristically he'd've hated it.

* Bagpuss and the Clangers.
* Dear old Jim Henson, before the gardening accident.
* Fish. (Him from Marillion, not A Fish. Hugging a fish would just be plain weird).
* Stephen Fry and Kate Bush, as others have said. Who wouldn't want to hug Kate Bush (and tell her to get a move on with a new album)?
* Bernard Cribbins - with or without Jenny Agutter.
* Bernard Hill and Steve Coogan for their work in Sunshine. Normally I'd put Coogan in the "faces I'd want to slap" thread, but we were riveted by this. My nan died a while ago, and watching the two of them as Bernard died just finished me off. I've never cried so much at a TV programme before, and they deserve any plaudits or awards available. I'll never look at Coogan with quite the same hatred again.

* Plus, given his problems with J Ross and R Brand: Andrew Sachs. Is there a man who more deserves a hug at this moment?

... group hug this poor man now

Only in his 'meester fawltee' Manuel character, i'd hug him to death... oh hang on, have i gone too far (again) with my ill-timed thoughts.. the only way to rectify this...

issue an very 'public and still manage to up the profile' apology for all the previous ill-thought misdemeanors that I have thunk up before this one... jeez its easy to fall into this 'upsetting someone' trap isnt it?

Daveyman1968 sounds like he could do with a hug.

Edwyn Collins - come on Edwyn!
The Go-Betweens (back when Grant was with us, of course)
Brian Wilson - on a good day
Camille - just to see what it's like