Peter Cook has come out on top in a vote by comedians to find the greatest funnyman of all time.
More than 300 comedians, comedy writers, producers and directors on both sides of the Atlantic were asked to rank the biggest names in comedy. (Pic: Granada Ventures Ltd)
Cook was named the world's most talented comedian, followed by Fawlty Towers and Monty Python star John Cleese in second place, American filmmaker Woody Allen and the late Eric Morecambe.
The list of 50 top comedians, compiled for the Channel 4 show The Comedians' Comedian, is dominated by British talent.
Tommy Cooper, who died after collapsing on stage in 1984, is sixth in the list, Scottish stand-up Billy Connolly eighth and double act Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer ninth.
Today's top-rated British comedians include Steve Coogan (17), cross-dresser Eddie Izzard (19), Have I Got News for You? star Paul Merton (20), Phoenix Nights creator and star Peter Kay (22) and Blackadder creator Rowan Atkinson (24).
At 26th in the list, Harry Hill, the doctor turned comedian famous for TV Burp, has been voted funnier than Monty Python star Michael Palin (30), The Young Ones star Rik Mayall (34) and British wit Stephen Fry (39).
The talent behind The Office, Ricky Gervais, is also in the top 50 list, although at 49th he ranks below more established stars.
Women have fared less well - the highest ranking female is Victoria Wood at 27, followed by French and Saunders at 31.
The only other females in the top 50 are US star of the barbed one-liners Joan Rivers, at 40, followed by the late British comedienne Joyce Grenfell, who appeared as Sgt Ruby Gates in the St Trinian's films.
Although Cook is voted number one, his comedy partner Dudley Moore is absent from the top 50.
Cook's partnership with Moore in the Not Only...But Also TV shows made the pair one of the funniest double acts of all time.
Tributes to Cook included Canadian Austin Powers star Mike Myers, who was voted 48th in the list, and said of the late British comedian: "I didn't know dirty words could be done that artfully."
Arthur Smith said: "He had talent oozing out of him and he hardly had to exert himself as he was so brilliantly funny.
"He influenced a whole generation of people - even now he's spoken of in terms of awe."
The 50 top comedians:
1. Peter Cook
2. John Cleese
3. Woody Allen
4. Eric Morecambe
5. Groucho Marx
6. Tommy Cooper
7. Laurel and Hardy
8. Billy Connolly
9. Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer
10. Richard Pryor
11. Chris Morris
12. Tony Hancock
13. Bill Hicks
14. Peter Sellers
15. Steve Martin
16. Ronnie Barker
17. Steve Coogan
18. Charlie Chaplin
19. Eddie Izzard
20. Paul Merton
21. Eric Idle
22. Peter Kay
23. Larry David
24. Rowan Atkinson
25. Bob Hope
26. Harry Hill
27. Victoria Wood
28. Spike Milligan
29. Christopher Guest
30. Michael Palin
31. French and Saunders
32. Eddie Murphy
33. Bob Monkhouse
34. Rik Mayall
35. Steven Wright
36. Ken Dodd
37. Les Dawson
38. Chic Murray
39. Stephen Fry
40. Joan Rivers
41. Joyce Grenfell
42. Phil Silvers
43. Jackie Mason
44. Eric Sykes
45. Robin Williams
46. Paul Whitehouse
47. Bill Cosby
48. Mike Myers
49. Ricky Gervais
50. Mel Brooks.
Story filed: 07:51:49 Sunday 2 January 2005
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