Tommy Cooper died on stage in 1984

He beat the likes of Billy Connolly, Rowan Atkinson and Benny Hill to take the top spot in the 20-strong list.

The fez-wearing comic, with his "just like that" catchphrase and bumbling manner, suffered a fatal heart attack during a live TV broadcast in 1984.

Phoenix Nights star Peter Kay came second and Billy Connolly third in the poll of nearly 2,000 people.

TOP FUNNIEST BRITS 1. Tommy Cooper 2. Peter Kay 3. Billy Connolly 4. Morecambe and Wise 5. Bob Monkhouse 6. Ken Dodd 7. Roy 'Chubby' Brown 8. (equal) Norman Wisdom 8. (equal) Les Dawson 10. Lee Evans 11. (equal) David Jason 11. (equal) Dawn French 13. (equal) Jim Davidson 13. (equal) Rowan Atkinson 15. Benny Hill 16. Jasper Carrott 17. Lenny Henry 18. Spike Milligan 19. John Cleese 20. (equal) Eddie Izzard 20. (equal) Freddie Starr Reader's Digest poll

"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."

TV duo Morecambe and Wise were fourth, followed by the late Bob Monkhouse, who died in December, 2003.

The rest of the top 10 was made up almost entirely of old-timers - Ken Dodd, Roy "Chubby" Brown, Norman Wisdom and Les Dawson - though Lee Evans made it to number 10.

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