Thriller named best music video

Michael Jackson’s Thriller has been voted favourite pop video of all time on a poll on Channel 4.

The accolade comes as Jackson faces trial in Santa Barbara, California, on child molestation charges.

The 1983 creation, which sees the singer turn into a zombie, beat offerings from Madonna and Queen in the Channel 4 poll.

The king of pop, currently facing trial charged with sex abuse, has two videos in the top 10, voted for by TV viewers.

Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer (1986), revolutionary for its computer animation, is second in the list.

A-Ha’s Take on Me (1985), which sees a comic book hero come to life, is third.

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) is fourth followed by Madonna’s Like a Prayer (1989), with its burning crosses, statues weeping blood and the star’s infamous kiss with a black Jesus.

Robbie Williams’s Rock DJ (2000) – which sees the singer strip and then rip off body parts – is sixth, and another Michael Jackson hit, Billie Jean is seventh.

Madonna has a second placing in the top ten, with Vogue (1990), the celebration of screen giants of the 1940s, in ninth place.

The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony (1997), which sees Richard Ashcroft march down and East London Street barging into everyone he meets, is eighth.

Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) – where cheerleaders dance in the gym, while Nirvana fans reach such a frenzy they trash it and tie up the janitor, is tenth.

The top 50

1. Michael Jackson – Thriller

2. Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer

3. A-ha – Take on Me

4. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

5. Madonna – Like a Prayer

6. Robbie Williams – Rock DJ

7. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

8. The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

9. Madonna – Vogue

10. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

11. Coldplay – The Scientist

12. Michael & Janet Jackson – Scream

13. Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall

14. Christina Aguilera – Dirrty

15. REM – Everybody Hurts

16. OutKast – Hey Ya

17. Blur – Coffee & TV

18. Beyonce – Crazy in Love

19. Madonna – Material Girl

20. Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood

21. Queen – I Want to Break Free

22. Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River

23. Britney Spears – ...Baby One More Time

24. Radiohead – No Surprises

25. Madness – Baggy Trousers

26. TLC – Waterfalls

27. David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes

28. Foo Fighters – Learn to Fly

29. Electric Six – Gay Bar

30. Weezer – Buddy Holly

31. Eminem – Stan

32. Chris Isaak – Wicked Game

33. U2 – The Sweetest Thing

34. The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl

36. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Give It Away

37. Guns N Roses – November Rain

35. Sinead O’Connor- Nothing Compares 2U

38. Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice

39. Pulp – Common People

40. Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak On

41. The Spice Girls – Wannabe

42. Bjork – It’s Oh So Quiet

43. Dire Straits – Money for Nothing

44. Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head

45. Aerosmith – Crazy

46. Adam & the Ants – Prince Charming

47. The Prodigy – Firestarter

48. Johnny Cash – Hurt

49. Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity

50. Paul Simon- You Can Call Me Al