Oscar Wilde has been named the wittiest Brit of all time by a poll.

The playwright, who famously uttered on his deathbed: ‘Either those curtains go or I do,’ received 20% of the vote.

Some 3,000 comedy fans were questioned for the survey, which marked the launch of a new UKTV digital television channel called Dave – ‘The home of witty banter’.

Spike Milligan was named second – just two points behind Wilde. The comedian had the epitaph ‘I told you I was ill’ engraved on his tombstone.

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was the highest ranking female at 12th, with the acerbic Winston Churchill taking fifth place.

Some slightly less obvious names to make the poll included Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher (10), and former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough (9).