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THE Beatles, good manners, and cups of tea are among 100 things that put the Great into Britain, says a survey.

John, Paul, George and Ringo - the biggest selling pop group of the 20th century with 40 number ones in the UK alone - romped home as the nation's all-time favourite band.

Original James Bond Sean Connery is named top actor while the Aston Martin DB5 he drove in 1964 007 film Goldfinger is top sports car. Another Bond favourite, Dame Judi Dench, is top actress.

Singer-songwriter Kate Bush, who in 2005 released her first album for 12 years, is voted favourite female pop star while Only Fools and Horses, starring David Jason, is leading TV comedy.

More than 1,000 people took part in the survey by website www.thebestof.co.uk, which recommends shops, restaurants and businesses.

Best Of British boss Nigel Botterill said: "There is something unique about British life and these are the people and qualities that make it that way.

"It was fascinating to see that good manners was still there as the number one quality in our culture.

It goes hand in hand with good service."

BEST BRITISH LIST

Best British sports car

1. Aston Martin DB5

2. Jaguar E-Type

3. Mini Cooper S

4. TVR

5. Lotus Europa

Best British car

1. Mini

2. Jaguar XJ6

3. Rollsâ€"Royce Silver Shadow

4. Bentley Continental

5. Ford Capri

Best British food

1. Roast beef & Yorkshire pudding

2. Fish & chips

3. Curry

4. Roast turkey at Christmas

5. Sausage & mash

Best British snack

1. Bacon sandwich

2. Crisps

3. Cornish pasty

4. Beans on toast

5. Sausage sandwich

Best British drink

1. Tea

2. Coffee

3. Fizzy pop

4. Water

5. Fruit juice

Best British male band/pop star

1. The Beatles

2. Robbie Williams

3. Queen

4. Take That

5. Coldplay

Best British female band/pop star

1. Kate Bush

2. Sugababes

3. Katie Melua

4. Girls Aloud

5. Bananarama

Best British male actor

1. Sean Connery

2. David Jason

3. Hugh Grant

4. Anthony Hopkins

5. Ray Winstone

Best British female actor

1. Judi Dench

2. Julie Walters

3. Kate Winslet

4. Helen Mirren

5. Keira Knightley

Best British culture

1. Good manners

2. Freedom of speech

3. Politeness

4. Pubs

5. National Health Service

Best British invention

1. Television

2. Penicillin

3. CatsÍ Eyes

4. Jet engine

5. Vacuum cleaner

Best British landmark

1. Stonehenge

2. Big Ben

3. White Cliffs of Dover

4. Blackpool Tower

5. Tower of London

Best British celebrity

1. Ant & Dec

2. Diana, Princess of Wales

3. Billy Connolly

4. Richard Branson

5. The Queen

Best British sports star

1. David Beckham

2. George Best

3. Steve Redgrave

4. Jonny Wilkinson

5. Andrew Flintoff

Best British person in history

1. Florence Nightingale

2. Isambard Kingdom Brunel

3. King Arthur

4. Alexander Graham Bell

5. Guy Fawkes

Best British politician

1. Winston Churchill

2. Emily Pankhurst

3. Margaret Thatcher

4. Tony Blair

5. Enoch Powell

Best British TV drama

1. Dr Who

2. A Touch of Frost

3. Spooks

4. Inspector Morse

5. Prime Suspect

Best British TV comedy

1. Only Fools & Horses

2. Fawlty Towers

3. Have I Got News For You

4. The Office

5. Absolutely Fabulous

Best British TV soap

1. Coronation Street

2. Eastenders

3. The Bill

4. Casualty

5. Hollyoaks

Best British radio show

1. IÍm Sorry I HavenÍt a Clue

2. Desert Island Discs

3. WomanÍs Hour

4. The Archers

5. Just a Minute
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