Steve Coogan's alter-ego tops Gold's list

Alan Partridge has been named Britain's greatest comedy character. 

Steve Coogan's alter-ego made the top of a list decided by a panel of comedy performers and writers for the Gold television channel tonight.

The names in the top 30 were decided by public poll and are always likely to be subjective. For example, neither of the Steptoes made the list - nor did any character who wasn't white.

The panel, headed by Sally Phillips,  comprised comedy performers Shappi Khorsandi, Nina Wadia, John Thomson, Peter Egan, Lucy Beaumont, Marcus Brigstocke and Emily Atack, writer David Quantick and critic Grace Dent.

Their discussions were  aired over three hours tonight and the full list, which they graded, is:

1.Alan Partridge

2. Del Boy (Only Fools And Horses)

3. David Brent (The Office)

4. Blackadder

5. Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers)

6. Fleabag

7. Rick (The Young Ones)

8. Fletcher (Porridge)

9. Victor Meldrew (One Foot In The Grave)

10. Frank Spencer (Some Mothers Do Ave Em)

11. Captain Mainwaring (Dad’s Amy)

12. Hyacinth Bucket (Keeping Up Appearances)

13. Arkwright (Open All Hours)

14. Rigsby (Rising Damp)

15. Mrs Merton

16. Malcolm Tucker (The Thick Of It)

17. Margo Leadbetter (The Good Life)

18. Geraldine Granger (The Vicar Of Dibley)

19. Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister)

20. Hancock (Hancock’s Half Hour)

21. Mr Bean

22. Miranda

23. Ali G

24. Father Ted

25. Nessa Jenkins (Gavin & Stacey)

26. Patsy Stone (Absolutely Fabulous)

27 Mrs Brown

28Perry (Kevin & Perry)

29. Martin Bryce (Ever Decreasing Circles)

30 Compo (Last Of The Summer Wine)

Published: 24 May 2020