Kylie Minogue and Cheryl Cole Named Top Celebrities in England

Research company Millward Brown said a recent poll of 2,000 consumers across Britain voted Australian singer Kylie Minogue the most powerful celebrity in Britain. Millward Brown quizzed the consumers about the impact and buzz worthiness of 100 celebrities and 100 brands that explored how well known, and well liked, people and products were to the buying public in England.

Millward Brown said Kylie Minogue is not only known positively for her musical contributions but also for bringing attention to the issue of Breast Cancer research and treatment. Kylie Minogue beat fellow singer Cheryl Cole and former Manchester United footballer and captain David Beckham to top the study used by marketers to identify celebrity and brand partnerships. Cheryl Cole, of Girls Aloud fame, finished second in the poll and received the highest "buzz" score with most surveyed saying they know her from Girls Aloud, as the host of X Factor and from her marital problems with Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole.

The only non-British celebrity to appear in the top 10 was US actor George Clooney, who is well liked with the British public and had no negative publicity in the past year.

Actresses Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren and Dame Judi Dench also featured in the top 10 and were seen as positive role models.

TV presenters Ant and Dec, radio star Terry Wogan, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and former Bond star Sean Connery also featured in the top 10.

Those surveyed were also asked who they thought were poor roll models. The celebrities ranked poorly were singer Amy Winehouse for her drug and alcohol problems along with reports of her reconciling with ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, glamour model and reality TV star Katie Price, or Jordan as she is better known, socialite Paris Hilton, Golfer Tiger Woods, John Terry and TV presenter Jonathan Ross.

The 10 most powerful UK celebrities:

1) Kylie Minogue

2) Cheryl Cole

3) David Beckham

4) Ant & Dec

5) Joanna Lumley

6) Terry Wogan

7) Jamie Oliver

8) George Clooney

9) Sean Connery

10) Helen Mirren