Gervais 'not quite as popular as Ant and Dec'

Ricky Gervais is the most popular face on British TV ­ except for Ant and Dec.

The Office star came second in a Radio Times poll to find Britain's favourite TV stars, with Peter Kay taking third spot.

The Geordie duo shared the top spot because the thousands of viewers who voted couldn't tell them apart.

Gervais earned his place thanks to the high profile of The Office, but observers described Kay's third placing 'a surprise choice'. Just two weeks ago he was rated Britain's most over-rated comedian in a poll of Chortle readers, prompting a furious backlash from his fans.

Jonathan Ross came third in the poll, which will be published in tomorrow's magazine

The top 10 is:

1. Ant and Dec
2. Ricky Gervais
3. Peter Kay
4. Jonathan Ross
5. Shane Richie
6. The Osbournes
7. Stephen Fry
8. Matt Lucas and David Walliams from Little Britain
9. David Jason
10. Julie Walters

Harry Hill also scraped into the top 20 at number 19, between Pop Idol's Simon Cowell and EastEnder Leslie Grantham.

Published: 8 Mar 2004