Page last updated at 21:00 GMT, Sunday, 1 January 2006

Life of Brian named best comedy

John Cleese in a scene from Life of Brian
The Monty Python team claimed both the first and the sixth spot

Monty Python's Life of Brian has been named the greatest comedy film of all time in a Channel 4 poll.

The UK satire beat 1980s US film Airplane into second and British-made 2004 film Shaun of the Dead into third.

Spy caper Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery came fourth, while animated comedy South Park was fifth.

More than 22,000 people voted in the poll for The 50 Greatest Comedy Films, narrated by Stephen Fry and broadcast at 2100 GMT tonight.

50 GREATEST COMEDY FILMS
1st - Life of Brian
10th - This is Spinal Tap
20th - Young Frankenstein
30th - Best in Show
40th - Duck Soup
50th - The Producers (1968)

The Monty Python team also claimed the sixth spot with Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Teen adventure American Pie came seventh, followed by Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles and There's Something About Mary, starring Cameron Diaz.

Rock spoof This is Spinal Tap came 10th in the survey.

The list featured a range of recent films and classics including The Ladykillers made at Ealing Studios in 1955.

British smash-hits the Full Monty and Four Weddings and a Funeral also made it onto the list in 32nd and 36th place respectively.

SEE ALSO
ET crowned 'greatest family film'
23 Dec 05 |  Entertainment
Little Britain takes comedy award
15 Dec 05 |  Entertainment
Grease tops 'best musical' poll
30 Oct 05 |  Entertainment

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