Interior designer and socialite Nicky Haslam has released his latest annual 'Common List,' which designates items and characteristics he considers to be passé or inelegant. For 2026, the list includes beards, Diet Coke, and even 'being thin,' along with quails' eggs, which are retailed at approximately £5 a dozen at stores like Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.
Haslam, 87, has been issuing such pronouncements for nearly 30 years. He first gained wider public attention in 1999 by labeling 'jet lag' and 'being ill' as 'common.' Since 2018, he has commercialized these judgments by printing his 'Nicky Haslam's Common List' on tea towels annually. The current year's version is priced at £60 and includes a CD by Haslam.
Alongside beards, which Haslam notes in relation to a U.S. Defense Secretary's ban on them in the Armed Forces, this year's list also condemns the words 'nuanced' and 'no-brainer.' Haslam also deems the word 'foodstuffs' common, suggesting 'food' suffices, and notes that feeling 'pity' is common, though he finds 'self-pity' understandable. The Hay Festival, a literary event, is called common in its entirety, as is referring to the Prime Minister's wife as 'First Lady.'
Other items on the list include 'people wanting to show photos on their phone... then can't find them,' 'birthday cakes unless under 14,' 'frills on cushions downstairs,' and 'folding-in wing mirrors.' The comment 'Still finding The Goons funny' is also included, which could be interpreted as a jab at King Charles, a known fan of the 1950s radio show.
Despite the controversial nature of his declarations, Haslam insists his lists are not meant to be taken too seriously and are based on taste rather than class. He has cited this as the reason he would not redecorate for David and Victoria Beckham. However, the list itself has drawn criticism, with some questioning the 'commonness' of charging £60 for a tea towel and a CD.