Nicky Haslam's 2024 Common List Targets Beards, Diet Coke and Word Usage Interior designer Nicky Haslam releases his annual Common List, criticizing beards, Diet Coke, nuanced language, and modern etiquette in his controversial 2024 declaration. Interior designer and socialite Nicky Haslam, aged 87, has once again ignited public debate with the release of his annual 'Common List'. This controversial compilation, now in its modern paid iteration, dismisses numerous cultural trends, linguistic habits, and lifestyle choices as lacking in sophistication. The list has drawn attention for its sharp critiques of everything from royal accessories to everyday consumer products and conversational phrases. Targeting Beards And Modern EtiquetteAmong the most shocking items on this year's list are beards, which Haslam has dismissed as 'common' despite being sported by princes William and Harry. He references US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's ban on beards in the Armed Forces with the phrase 'I'm with Hegseth' printed on the tea towel version of the list. Other targets include 'being thin', Diet Coke, and quails' eggs, which he claims are common even though they cost approximately £5 a dozen at retailers like Waitrose or Marks & Spencer.Critiquing Language And Literary EventsHaslam also takes aim at specific vocabulary, labeling the words 'nuanced' and 'no-brainer' as common. He argues that 'foodstuffs' is unnecessary when 'food' suffices, and claims that feeling 'pity' is common, though he makes an exception for 'self-pity', which he finds understandable. Additionally, the middle-class literary event on the Welsh border, The Hay Festival, is deemed common in its entirety. He also criticizes referring to the Prime Minister's wife, currently Mrs Burnham, Marie-France van Heel, as 'First Lady'.Specific Domestic And Social GrievancesThe list extends to specific behaviors and design choices that Haslam finds distasteful. He cites 'people wanting to show photos on their phone... then can't find them', 'birthday cakes unless under 14', and 'frills on cushions downstairs', noting that upstairs cushions are acceptable. A request from his friend TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, 'folding-in wing mirrors', is also included. 'Still finding The Goons funny' appears as another potential jab, given that King Charles is a known fan of the 1950s radio show.The Evolution And Cost Of The ListPreviously known only to an in-crowd ranging from royalty to Mick Jagger for his furniture and wallpaper recommendations, Haslam came to wider public attention in 1999 by calling 'jet lag' and 'being ill' common. He enjoyed the reaction so much that since 2018, he has been making money from his judgments. This year's list is sold on his website for £60 on a tea towel, including a CD by Mr Haslam. Despite claims of receiving 'lots of nice notes' from the late Queen Elizabeth II and finding Queen Camilla 'adorable', Haslam insists his lists are not to be taken seriously and are about taste rather than class.