Cooper voted Britain's favourite comedian

Tommy Cooper has been voted Britain’s favourite funnyman of all time.

Wed, 25 Aug, 2004 - 08:58

Tommy Cooper has been voted Britain’s favourite funnyman of all time.

The fez-wearing comic – catchphrase “just like that” – died 20 years ago but he beat modern comedians in the poll by Reader’s Digest magazine.

Phoenix Nights star Peter Kay was voted into second place.

“Comedy fashions come and go but as far as the British public is concerned you obviously can’t beat Tommy Cooper’s classic one-liners,” said a magazine spokesman.

“For Cooper to still be so popular, even among younger voters, is incredible.”

Billy Connolly came third in the poll of nearly 2,000 people.

TV duo Morecambe and Wise were fourth, followed by the late Bob Monkhouse.

The rest of the top 10 was made up almost entirely of old-timers – Ken Dodd, Roy “Chubby” Brown, Norman Wisdom and Les Dawson – with Lee Evans at number 10.

Dawn French was the only woman to make the top 20, finishing equal 11th with David Jason.

Fans of Jim Davidson managed to vote him into 13th place.

Top 20:

1 Tommy Cooper

2 Peter Kay

3 Billy Connolly

4 Morecambe and Wise

5 Bob Monkhouse

6 Ken Dodd

7 Roy “Chubby” Brown

=8 Norman Wisdom

=8 Les Dawson