Boys left flailing in life with only macho, weak or bungling men filling their screens

YOUNG men do not have enough positive role models in popular culture - either seeing wimpy or excessively masculine types instead, researchers found.

- BY DAVID WILLIAMSON Chief Political Commentator

More than three-quarters of people polled said this was the case.

When they were asked to name good role models, Sir David Beckham, Sir David Attenborough, Prince William and actors Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Keanu Reeves were cited most often.

The Centre for Social Justice said young men face a “crisis of identity” - underperforming in many areas - and called for a “masculinity reset”.

But it argued Britain's cultural institutions are not ready to acknowledge the country has a “men problem”.

The CSJ's survey - carried out by Whitestone Insight - also found 57% of people would like to see male characters showing “honesty, respect and family values”.