Category: Factual & Arts TV
Date: 02.09.2005
Printable version
Tonight (Friday 2 September), the world's newest country was born when thousands of people gathered in Leicester Square, London to witness the naming of the world's youngest country and to meet the man more than 36,000 'citizens' now consider their King.
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And what is the name of the new country, I hear you cry? The world's newest nation is to be called Lovely.
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It all started six weeks ago, when Danny Wallace launched his bid to start a new country in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO series, How To Start Your Own Country.
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Since then, people from all over the country and beyond have been signing to become citizens at www.citizensrequired.com.
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And, at King Danny's request, they have been sending in thousands of suggestions as to what this new country could be called.
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Ideas ranged from Flatland to Wallaceland, Spexico to United Kingdan and Dantopia; someone even suggested calling the country France!
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But, in the end, the final selection came down to just two: Home or Lovely.
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Aiming to become the most democratic democracy in the world, King Danny conducted a world first and let the people decide.
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Commenting before the announcement, King Danny said: "I guess the big question is whether the citizens would rather be known as 'Lovelies' or 'Homies', 'Lovers' or 'Homers'?
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"Whatever they decide, it's onwards and upwards from here as, in just six weeks, we're already bigger than the Vatican, San Marino, Monaco and
Liechtenstein."
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He continued: "I don't think any country has done this before. Countries change their name but it's always by committee, never by the people.
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"But I've learnt that it's people that make a country. It's people that count. As a rookie King, it's important that I listen to the people, even if at times they seem to be talking complete gibberish!"
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Six months ago, 28-year-old Danny Wallace decided to start his own country. Naming himself King Danny I and declaring his one-bedroom flat in East London's Bow an independent state, he even delivered a Declaration of Independence to Number Ten.
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How to Start Your Own Country has charted his extraordinary journey, which has seen him travel the globe meeting politicians and princes and taking advice from the likes of Noam Chomsky, Kenneth Clarke, a cardinal at the Vatican and the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England.
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He's written a constitution, set up an interim government, created a brand-new currency, instated law and order, and recorded a national anthem. He's even got his face on a stamp!
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Tonight's event can be seen in the final episode on Wednesday 7 September at 10.00pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO.
