The Celebrity Squads Brits Dream of Joining - From Idris Elba to Taylor Swift

A poll, of 2,000 UK adults, also revealed David Beckham and Ed Sheeran were among the famous faces the nation would most want to be pals with, placing fourth and fifth respectively. While Taylor Swift, Adele, and Alison Hammond also made the top 10.

Footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Mary Earps, as well as Man City manager Pep Guardiola, also ranked highly in the poll.

But when queried about the fictional squads Brits most wanted to be part of, it was the cast of 90s sitcom Friends (20%) that led the way, followed by joining Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s magical gang in Harry Potter (18%). Becoming one of The Avengers superheroes and hanging out with the crew from The Big Bang Theory were also popular choices.

The poll was commissioned by game company Supercell, to celebrate the launch of its party action mobile game, Squad Busters, which sees players take part in multiplayer matches, building up squads and competing to collect the most gems.

A spokesperson said: “The results show Brits would love the thrill of hearing behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories one minute, getting life-changing saving tips the next - and then hearing all the locker room tales from their favourite footballers."

When it comes to the real world, The Beatles (20%) and The Rat Pack (14%) are the squads those polled want to be part of. While others love the idea of being a member of the ‘Hollywood Ladies’ - Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Reese Witherspoon (11%).

Some, however, reckon they’ve got what it takes to be part of Manchester United’s famous class of ’92 (10%) - which spearheaded the club into its most dominant period.

The research, conducted via OnePoll, went on to find age 24 is when our squads are typically settled. Being friends from school (19%) is the most common way in which friendship groups are forged, followed by former and existing work colleagues (14%).

It also found six in 10 (61%) agreed trust is the most important component for pals, with loyalty being essential for 57%. More than half (52%) said a shared sense of humour is the basis for any strong friendship group. While 73% agreed the best groups of mates - or ‘squads’ - are made up of a range of personalities.

A spokesperson added: “Most importantly, it looks like we value being part of a squad we trust and who have a sense of humour.”