Although many successful Hollywood movie franchises – including Harry Potter, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes – are filmed in the UK or feature British actors, the most successful UK-produced film of all time is currently Slumdog Millionaire(2008), which has grossed $141 million (£100.6 million) in the USA and a total of $378 million (£234 million) worldwide, making it the 143rd most successful film of all time. Despite the success of Scotland-set films such as Braveheart (1995) and Trainspotting (1996), the highest-grossing film produced in Scotland Continue reading →

The record for the highest concert recording is 11,277 m (37,000 ft) on the flight ZT6902 achieved by British band, Jamiroquai, and Sony Ericsson on the on the 27 February 2006 departing from Munich, Germany.

The first series of the ITV drama Downton Abbey scored 92 out of 100 on Metacritic, making it the highest-scoring reviewer-rated show of the year. The series, conceived and written by the actor Julian Fellowes (UK), follows the lives and loves of those living upstairs and downstairs in the estate of Robert, Earl of Grantham from 1912 to ­1914.

The highest darts score by inner and outer bull’s-eyes in two minutes by a pair is 800 and was achieved by Kevin Fisher and Peter Gibbins (both UK) at The Grapes Public House in Colchester, Essex, UK, on 20 February 2014. The pair hit 22 outer bull’s-eyes and five bull’s-eyes on route to setting this new Guinness World Records title, breaking the previous mark by 50 points. On hand as their expert witness was Richie ‘Rich’ George, a professional darts player and son of darts Continue reading →

The highest recorded jump by an insect is 70 cm (28 in) by the froghopper (Philaenus spumarius). When it jumps, the insect accelerates at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) per second and overcomes a G-force of more than 414 times its own body weight. The research was conducted by Professor Malcolm Burrows, Head of the Zoology Department of the University of Cambridge in 2003. The secret to the insect’s jumping abilities is found in its hind legs which contain extremely strong muscles. Energy is built up Continue reading →

The highest misty flip on inline skates is 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) and was achieved by Steve Swain (UK) on the set of Guinness World Records – Smashed, in London, UK, on 23 April 2009. A misty flip is a 180 degree twist while doing a somersault. The contestant used a quarter pipe as acceleration ramp and a launch ramp which was 1.6 m high. The height of the jump was calculated as the distance from the lip of the ramp and the Continue reading →

The highest batting partnership formed by two players playing in their first One Day International matches is 118 runs by Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum for Scotland against Pakistan in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the match played on 27 June 2006.

The greatest altitude from which a successful parachute escape has been made from an aircraft is from a Canberra jet bomber by Flt./Lt John de Salis, aged 29, of Southampton, and Fg Off. Patrick Lowe, aged 23, of Potters Bar, Middlesex, over Monyash, Derbyshire, UK, on 9 April 1958. Their plane exploded at 56,000 ft (10.60 miles) and they fell free in a temperature of – 70Fº to a height of 10,000 ft at which altitude their parachutes were automatically opened.

The highest height a human was catapulted using a reverse bungee system is 54.25 m (178 ft) and was achieved by Ben Shephard (UK) on the set of Guinness World Records – Smashed, in London, UK, on 3 October 2008.

The highest number of points achieved on Dr. Kawashima Body and Brain Training Exercises (Balloon Buster) is 7,850 and was achieved by Victoria Norval in Cardiff (UK), on 22 February 2011. The attempt took place in the ASDA Coryton Supercentre, Cardiff, as part of a record breaking tour in five ASDA stores across the UK.