Eddie Izzard has beaten the likes of John Cleese, Eric Morecambe and Tommy Cooper to head Chortle's poll of the funniest comedians of all time.

The 40-year-old stand-up was named top comedy hero in a survey of more than 500 visitors to the site.

He was closely followed by Billy Connolly, then John Cleese and the Monty Python team.

Chortle also asked comedians working the circuit today to name their most important comedy influences.

Bill Hicks, the uncompromising American comedian who died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 32 in 1994, topped the poll of comedians' comedians.

Comedy fans voted for a huge range of heroes, from Kenneth Williams to Fozzie Bear, in the poll ­ part of the Chortle comedy awards.

The awards were launched this year to reward the live performances mostly overlooked by the British Comedy Awards, which has only one category for best stand-up (won by Victoria Wood last year).

Winners of these awards will be announced on Tuesday - coincidentally the eighth anniversary of Bill Hicks's death. (Shortlist)

1. Eddie Izzard
2. Billy Connolly
3. John Cleese/Monty Python
4. Morecambe and Wise
5. Victoria Wood
6. The League of Gentlemen
7. Peter Cook
8. Spike Milligan
9. Peter Sellers
10. Tommy Cooper

1. Bill Hicks
2. Eddie Izzard
3. Billy Connolly
4. Spike Milligan
5. John Cleese