Billy Connolly tops 'UK's Top Ten Comedians' poll

Victoria Wood, Les Dawson and Jim Davidson all made it into a list which was topped by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. The highest comedian who is currently on the circuit was Michael McIntyre, who came forth, followed by Jimmy Carr in sixth.

 

The survey by online search engine Ask Jeeves was compiled by adding together the search results on the question and answer-style search engine. It found that despite the growth of new styles of comedy over the past decade, the survey also found that people hold a dim view of the language used in modern comedy, with 55 per cent believing that comedians swear too much.

 

The findings may come as a surprise to Connolly, who earlier this year spoke out against what he says is a trend to censor comedy in the UK. The veteran comedian said that anyone who swore onstage was unfairly branded ‘vulgarian and foul mouthed’.

 

Only one in five think that comedians such as Frankie Boyle are as witty as those from previous generations.

 

Most worryingly, the search website also revealed that searches for 'why did the chicken cross the road' jokes were among the highest in the humour category on its pages.

 

Nadia Kelly, spokeswoman for Ask Jeeves, said: "From Billy Connolly to Tommy Cooper and knock, knock jokes to why did the chicken cross the road, the old ones still make us laugh. We are constantly surprised by the large numbers of people who go on to Ask Jeeves to search for jokes on certain subjects or to look up punchlines that they have forgotten."

 

1. Billy Connolly – 51 per cent

 

2. Victoria Wood – 47 per cent

 

3. Tommy Cooper – 45 per cent

 

4. Michael McIntyre – 44 per cent

 

5. Lee Evans – 42 per cent

 

6. Jimmy Carr – 41 per cent

 

7. Les Dawson – 40 per cent

 

8. Frank Skinner – 33 per cent

 

9. Jim Davidson – 33 per cent

 

10 = Ricky Gervais – 32 per cent equal with Bill Bailey – 32 per cent