The Bank of England commissions research into potential changes to the portraits shown on UK banknotes, including whether some historical figures should be replaced. One report says the work cost about £85,000 and focuses on options for what banknotes could feature instead of certain well-known Britons.
According to the reporting, the research suggests that portraits of figures such as Winston Churchill, Alan Turing, and Jane Austen could be substituted with wildlife-themed designs. The outlets describing the story frame the research as part of a broader review of banknote imagery, rather than an immediate announcement of what will be changed.
While the available material emphasizes the possibility of replacing specific people with wildlife, it does not provide details on when any redesign decision would take effect or whether these particular proposals are ultimately adopted. The coverage therefore reflects the content of the research rather than confirmed changes to circulation notes.
