The Kay-B-C of comedy kings

Peter Kay has good reason to celebrate with a plate of garlic bread or even champagne today - after being voted Britain's most popular comedian.

The Bolton funnyman came top in a survey of 10,000 people.

Eddie Izzard, Jack Dee, Jo Brand and Graham Norton also figured in the Top 10 compiled by Jongleurs Comedy Clubs - but Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams did not.

Proving that the North-South divide extends to humour, Kay was rated the top comic by voters in northern England but Bristol-born Lee Evans was preferred by southerners.

DVD releases of 31-year-old Kay's gigs and Phoenix Nights have become record-breakers.

The Office star Ricky Gervais came in at No.4 nationally but was

top in London and Wales. 'I'm very flattered. It's great to be liked in London where I live because now I know it's safe to walk the streets,' said the man behind comic creation David Brent.

'It's even better to be No.1 in Wales because I've always wanted to see Max Boyce angry. Did he at least beat Anne Robinson?'

Only Tommy Cooper, at No.11, made the grade from the older school of comics. Eric Morecambe and Tony Hancock failed to appear.