Europe's laughing at us

We're thoroughly unsexy, rude, narrow-minded and our food is rubbish.

But us Brits do have one thing going for us - we have the best sense of humour in Europe, according to our Continental cousins.

Thanks to exports such as Monty Python, Mr Bean and The Office, our fellow Europeans believe we are the funniest nation. We have also contributed most to the world.

But that's where the compliments stop. They put our cuisine on a par with Belgium, the Czech Republic and Russia - very mediocre.

And they voted us the fourth most popular nation but also the fourth least liked. Six nations beat us on sex appeal.

But at least we do not live in Germany, the most unpopular nation and the rudest, or Belgium, which was the least sexiest nation and the worst performeroverall. And it would probably be no laughing matter living in Switzerland, which was voted the least funny country.

The findings come in a Reader's Digest survey of 4,000 people in 19 EU states. London is Europe's second favourite city, sharing the spot with Rome but behind Paris which everyone loved the most.

The magazine said the Mediterraneans came out as the Europeans the rest of the Continent liked the most. 'It's interesting how widespread national stereotypes are,' it added.

'The Germans are the most efficient but least liked, the Dutch the most open-minded. As for Britain, the rest of Europe appears to view us as a nation of Mr Beans and Basil Fawlties.'