U2 France

By: PR Newswire

Dec. 29, 2006 02:26 PM

LONDON, December 29 /PRNewswire/ — Madonna was the most popular celebrity in 2006.

She beat the likes of Charlotte Church and Robbie Williams to top a survey of the most popular personalities requested by people searching on the entertainment search engine Celebrities Worldwide. Richard Brecker of www.celebritiesworldwide.com said: "The results show quite emphatically that more people were interested in Madonna than any other celebrity or reality star this year." Her ability to stay ahead is phenomenal - particularly in such a difficult year."

The singer attracted great controversy over the much publicised adoption of her son David from Malawi and has also reportedly faced marriage difficulties with her husband Guy Ritchie.

It has not been a good year for David Beckham who has slipped from No 4 ranking as the most requested name in 2005 to his current number 11 spot.

Beckham relinquished his captaincy of the England soccer team following their poor showing in the World Cup, has been dropped from the squad by new manager Steve McLaren and has struggled to hold a regular place in the first team at Real Madrid.

But some consolation - Becks still finishes five places higher this year than his publicity hungry wife Victoria

Little Britain TV star Matt Lucas in 10th position proves a bigger hit than his co-star David Walliams who trails four places behind Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, star judges on the hit TV series "X Factor" battle it out at 31st and 32nd spot respectively. One time showbiz outcast Noel Edmonds has catapulted back into the reckoning through the success of his TV show "Deal or No Deal"

Celebrities Worldwide is accepted as a benchmark of celebrity status and popularity and its website attracts more than 4 million visitors per year.

TOP 100 NAMES of 2006

1. Madonna

2. Charlotte Church

3. Jamie Oliver MBE

4. Robbie Williams

5. Jonathan Ross OBE

6. Billie Piper

7. Ricky Gervais

8. Jeremy Clarkson

9. Stephen Fry

10. Matt Lucas

11. David Beckham OBE

12. Gordon Ramsay OBE

13. Trinny Woodall

14. David Walliams

15. Fearne Cotton

16. Victoria Beckham

17. Elton John

18. Kylie Minogue

19. David Tennant

20. Rachel Stevens

21. Peter Kay

22. Davina McCall

23. Graham Norton

24. Paul McCartney

25. Dawn French

26. Russell Brand

27. Paul O’Grady

28. Coleen McLoughlin

29. Noel Edmonds

30. Richard Hammond

31. Simon Cowell

32. Sharon Osbourne

33. Nigella Lawson

34. Ewan McGregor

35. David Attenborough

36. Vernon Kay

37. Chris Moyles

38. Terry Wogan

39. Catherine Tate

40. Michael Palin CBE

41. Keira Knightley

42. Chris Evans

43. Zoe Ball

44. Chantelle Houghton

45. Elizabeth Hurley

46. Bill Bailey

47. Brad Pitt

48. Bob Geldof KBE

49. David Hasselhoff

50. Vic Reeves

51. Jarvis Cocker

52. Kevin Spacey

53. Paul Merton

54. George Clooney

55. Kate Moss

56. Jo Brand

57. Lenny Henry

58. Bruce Forsyth CBE

59. Angelina Jolie

60. Victoria Wood

61. Johnny Vegas

62. Will Young

63. Jade Goody

64. Edith Bowman

65. Kelly Holmes

66. Johnny Depp

67. Joanna Lumley

68. Cliff Richard

69. Emma Bunton

70. Denise Van Outen

71. Jude Law

72. Ian McKellen

73. Patrick Stewart OBE

74. John Cleese

75. Ian Hislop 7

6. Janet Street-Porter

77. Martine McCutcheon

78. Meera Syal MBE

79. Paris Hilton

80. Jools Holland

81. Jordan

82. Steve Coogan

83. Cilla Black

84. Dermot O’Leary

85. Richard Branson

86. Tom Cruise

87. Myleene Klass

88. George Michael

89. Cat Deeley

90. Ainsley Harriott

91. Kate Winslet

92. Ray Winstone

93. Sting

94. Geri Halliwell

95. Sara Cox

96. Jeremy Paxman

97. Gary Lineker

98. Carol Vorderman MBE

99. Bono

100. Dannii Minogue

Published Dec. 29, 2006 Copyright © 2006 SYS-CON Media. All Rights Reserved.