Stone me!

Hancock named best comic ever

Tony Hancock has been named the greatest comedian of all time.

Dead comics dominated the poll, released to launch the BBC's comedy and drama radio station BBC7 tonight. Just three of the top ten acts still alive.

Second in the list was The Goon Show, followed by Kenneth Horne. Spike Milligan made a separate entry at number seven.

But some well-known names did not make the cut, including the Monty Python team.

Hancock's writer, Alan Simpson, said: "It's very gratifying that these shows have lasted.

"I suppose it's because we were writing things that were permanent, indestructible facets of all our collective natures."

Co-writer Ray Galton said Hancock was the forerunner of comic anti-heroes such as Alan Partridge or The Office's David Brent.

"The thing they've all got in common is self delusion," he said. "They all think they're more intelligent than everyone else, more cultured - that people don't recognise their true greatness.

"Self-delusion in every case. And there's nothing people like better than
failure."

Mary Kalemkerian, head of programmes at BBC 7 said: "Classic comedians such as Tony Hancock and The Goons are obviously still firm favourites. Age doesn't seem to matter - if it's funny, it's funny.

The top ten is: