Billy's still tops

Connolly heads C4's comics run-down again

Billy Connolly has topped Channel 4’s run-down of the greatest stand-up comedians – for the second time.

The survey, which updates a 2007 poll, saw Richard Pryor rise a couple of places to take second position, Ricky Gervais third (from 11), Bill Hicks fourth (from 6th) and Eddie Izzard fifth (from 3rd).

The highest new entry is Michael McIntyre, in at number 9 while, Stewart Lee - who based an entire show on his 41st ranking last time around – has made a massive leap to 12th place.

Peter Kay, who was runner-up in the former poll, had slipped down to 6.

The poll has proved controversial for including the likes of Joe Pasquale, who has a reputation for stealing jokes, while omitting respected names such as Richard Herring, Mark Steel, Andy Parsons, Jason Byrne and Mark Watson.

It is the second poll Connolly has topped in a fortnight for Britain’s funniest comedian.

Here is the full run-down:

1. Billy Connolly
2. Richard Pryor
3. Ricky Gervais
4. Bill Hicks
5. Eddie Izzard
6. Peter Kay
7. Bill Bailey
8. Chris Rock
9. Michael McIntyre
10. Victoria Wood
11. Ross Noble
12. Stewart Lee
13. Jimmy Carr
14. Dylan Moran
15. Woody Allen
16. Dara O Briain
17. Lee Evans
18. Harry Hill
19. Sean Lock
20. Tommy Cooper
21. Lee Mack
22. Russell Brand
23. Daniel Kitson
24. Les Dawson
25. Al Murray
26. Jack Dee
27. Alan Carr
28. George Carlin
29. Frankie Boyle
30. Jo Brand
31. Robin Williams
32. Tommy Tiernan
33. Jerry Sadowitz
34. Omid Djalili
35. Russell Howard
36. Tim Vine
37. Jasper Carrott
38. Ben Elton
39. Reginald D Hunter
40. Eddie Murphy
41. Ed Byrne
42. Rhod Gilbert
43. Alan Davies
44. Tommy Trinder
45. Frank Skinner
46. Dave Gorman
47. Bob Hope
48. Johnny Vegas
49. Robert Newman
50. Steven Wright
51. Bernard Manning
52. Chris Addison
53. Lenny Bruce
54. Paul Merton
55. Dave Allen
56. Jerry Seinfeld
57. Joan Rivers
58. Graham Norton
59. Steve Coogan
60. Andy Kaufman
61. Steve Martin
62. Rob Chubby Brown
63. Phill Jupitus
64. Bob Monkhouse
65. Jason Manford
66. Mark Thomas
67. Demetri Martin
68. Paul O'Grady
69. Frankie Howerd
70. Jenny Eclair
71. Denis Leary
72. Alexei Sayle
73. Jim Davidson
74. Bill Cosby
75. Patrick Kielty
76. Chic Murray
77. Emo Phillips
78. Ardal O'Hanlon
79. Julian Clary
80. Ronnie Corbett
81. Tim Minchin
82. Bob Newhart
83. Lenny Henry
84. Dave Spikey
85. Barry Humphries
86. Harry Enfield
87. Jethro
88. Joe Pasquale
89. Sean Hughes
90. Dick Gregory
91. Rik Mayall
92. Ken Dodd
93. Roseanne Barr
94. Arthur Smith
95. Jackie Mason
96. Lee Hurst
97. Frank Carson
98. David Baddiel
99. Shappi Khorsandi
100. Freddie Starr