The list of cultural icons from this "small island" is world-changing, formidable, unmatched - and so to put a video game into the same sentence as those mentioned above may be considered daring.

But as the latest instalment of the super-violent series hits the shelves around the world, many are taking a step back and assessing the cultural impact of a title that has changed not only the games industry, but perhaps even the entertainment business as a whole.

Because even before today's release of Grand Theft Auto 5, the GTA series has already sold more games than The Who have sold records, to use just one comparison.