D-GRADE A-LIST

Didn’t get the grades you wanted? Jeremy Clarkson, Simon Cowell and Alan Sugar are proof it doesn’t always matter

Claire Hubble

Published: 22:32, 13 Aug 2020

A-LEVEL students opened their results today, and many will no doubt be feeling disappointed by their results after regulators revealed that 40 per cent of grades were marked down.

The news on A-level grading was met with outrage by students, who did not sit any exams this year due to the coronavirus crisis.

Thousands of students received their A-level results todayCredit: Getty Images - Getty

As students either celebrate or commiserate their results, we've rounded up the biggest A-listers who failed their A-levels.

Simon Cowell

TV's Simon Cowell created some of the most successful singing competitions ever: The X Factor, Pop Idol, America and Britain's Got Talent are just a few strings to his bow.

But the music industry mogul, 60, has just one O Level, which is equivalent to a GCSE.

He got his first big break by working in the mailroom at his dad's record label, EMI, before being promoted to talent scout and crawling his way to the top.

Simon used to work in the mail room at EMICredit: Splash News

Now the music industry mogul has created some of the most successful singing competitions ever, including The X FactorCredit: Rex Features

Jeremy Clarkson

The former Top Gear star, 60, enjoys reminding his followers how poorly he did in his A-levels each year on results day.

This year was no exception, as Jeremy tweeted: "A level results not great? Don’t worry, I got a C and 2 Us and I’m currently building a large house with far reaching views of the Cotswolds.

"And I didn’t even get the chance to insist the government gave me three As instead."

The former Top Gear star, 60, often reminds his followers how poorly he did in his A-levelsCredit: Getty - Contributor

Richard Branson

The Virgin founder and millionaire dropped out of school aged 16 to start a magazine for students, which he imaginatively named Student.

Richard has dyslexia and got poor grades as a result.

On his last day of school, his headmaster allegedly told Richard he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire, according to the

Richard Branson went on to become one of the UK's most successful entrepreneursCredit: AFP

Lord Alan Sugar

The Apprentice's Alan Sugar famously didn't do well at school.

In fact, the stern-faced TV star dropped out of school aged 16 with six GCSES, although he claims these qualifications were tougher than today's standard.

In 2019, he tweeted: "Get you facts right I got 6 old fashioned GCE's which are 10 times harder than the multiple choice answer A levels of this day and age."

Lord Sugar then went on to set up his own business Amstrad at 21 years old.

The tough TV star, pictured with wife Ann Simons, has six GCSEsCredit: PA

The Apprentice star famously didn't do well at school.Credit: PA:Press Association

Clare Balding

Today, she's one of the UK's most popular broadcasters, with a long list of presenting credits including Wimbledon and Crufts.

But before she became famous, Clare was rejected from Oxbridge after not achieving the required A-level results.

The TV presenter then took two years out, sat her exams again and tried again, which led her secure a place reading English at Cambridge.

Clare Balding had to re-take her A-level exams before getting into OxbridgeCredit: Rex Features

Jon Snow

The TV journalist is now Channel 4's longest-running television presenter, but Jon Snow didn't achieve the A-level grades he wanted the first time he tried.

Jon, 72, got a C in English and failed his other subjects on first attempt, and he later returned to college to earn more qualifications, which eventually earned him a place at the University of Liverpool.