OASIS - LIAM 'BRITAIN'S TENTH WITTIEST'

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher has been named Britain's tenth wittiest wordsmith in a new poll.

New TV comedy channel Dave surveyed 3,000 people to find Britain's greatest wit, with Oscar Wilde topping the list.

The playwright - born in Dublin in 1854 when Ireland was still part of the UK - was praised for aphorisms such as "we are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars" and "I can resist everything except temptation".

The late Spike Milligan - whose headstone reads "I told you I was ill" finished second, while Stephen Fry - who played Wilde in the 1997 film - was named third ahead of Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and Winston Churchill.

The Dave poll quoted Gallagher's famed quip about Victoria Beckham as an example of his comedic touch.

Of the former Spice Girl, he said: "She can't even chew gum and walk in a straight line, let alone write a book."

William Shakespeare and Noel Coward were also named in the top ten by the digital channel - formerly UKTV G2 - while former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was the highest ranking woman, in 12th place, between Jonathan Ross and Boris Johnson.

Some 57 per cent of those questioned said men were wittier than women.