Top 19 British comics of all time (plus one Irish one)
The 75-year-old Monty Python star beat competition from a who’s who of comedy greats as well as younger upstarts.
Only Fools And Horses actor Sir David Jason takes second place in the poll, followed by Blackadder and Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe late Ronnie Barker is fourth, while The Office creator Ricky Gervais secures fifth place.
The Vicar Of Dibley star Dawn French is the highest-placed woman in the poll, in sixth position.
Funnyman Peter Kay is seventh in the survey, carried out for TV channel Gold, followed by The Young Ones’ Rik Mayall, who died earlier this year.
Carry On star Kenneth Williams is ninth and Alan Partridge creator Steve Coogan completes the top 10.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdJames Corden just missed out on the top 10, with 11th place, while Miranda Hart is the second-highest placed woman, ranking 14th.
Father Ted star, the late Dermot Morgan - who is actually Irish - polled at number 20.
Half of the 2,000 adults polled, to mark the launch on Gold of documentary Monty Python: The Meaning Of Live, felt that modern comedians are not as funny as classic comedy actors.
• Most Influential Comedy Stars
1. John Cleese
2. David Jason
3. Rowan Atkinson
4. Ronnie Barker
5. Ricky Gervais
6. Dawn French
7. Peter Kay
8. Rik Mayall
9. Kenneth Williams
10. Steve Coogan
11. James Corden
12. Harry Enfield
13. Ronnie Corbett
14. Miranda Hart
15. Eddie Izzard
16. David Walliams
17. Michael Palin
18. Arthur Lowe
19. Jennifer Saunders
20. Dermot Morgan