Copyright 2005 The Press Association Limited
Press Association
June 21, 2005, Tuesday
MAYOR KEN 'THE SEVENTH FUNNIEST LONDONER
Anita Singh, PA Showbusiness Editor
Ricky Gervais has been voted the nation's funniest Londoner.
The star of The Office topped a poll in Time Out magazine.
His writing partner Stephen Merchant was in second place.
Armando Iannucci, the man behind I'm Alan Partridge and The Day Today, was third, followed by Private Eye satirist Craig Brown.
Simon Pegg, star of Spaced and Shaun of the Dead, came fifth, ahead of Radio 4 favourite Linda Smith.
Other entries in the top 50 include Jack Dee, Kathy Burke and Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is seventh - the magazine says "his nasal pronouncements on the state of the nation are wonderful examples of miserabilist humour".
The poll includes many honorary Londoners who have moved to the capital - among them Noel Gallagher at number 45 and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at number 21.
Even Viz character Cockney Wanker makes an entry at number nine.
The poll was compiled by a Time Out panel of experts.
Gervais said: "It is very flattering, but I think you have to take these things with a pinch of salt.
"I mean, I was recently voted 17th Most Stylish Man in the World. And Johnny fucking Vegas beat me. It's like those polls to find Britain's favourite sketch. It's always whatever's currently on the telly followed by Fawlty Towers. Best album ever? Coldplay with the Beatles at number two. Despite that, it's genuinely flattering."
Time Out Top 10 Funniest Londoners:
1 Ricky Gervais
2 Stephen Merchant
3 Armando Iannucci
4 Craig Brown
5 Simon Pegg
6 Linda Smith
7 Ken Livingstone
8 Jack Dee
9 Cockney Wanker
10 Sean Lock