Cowell tops TV's 'most talented' list

Simon Cowell has topped a list of TV's most talented entertainers.

The Britain's Got Talent and X Factor judge beat off competition from stars such as Ant and Dec and Jamie Oliver to win the accolade.

TV industry magazine Broadcast, who compiled the list, said: "Joe McElderry may have triumphed in the 2009 X Factor final, but there's no disputing who was the biggest winner."

The Devil's Whore actress Maxine Peaks took second place in the listing, while Dr Who star Russell Tovey came third. Fourth place went to presenting duo And & Dec, with comic actor Simon Bird rounding off the top five.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Top 20 TV entertainers were named as -

1 Simon Cowell
2 Maxine Peake
3 Russell Tovey
4 Ant and Dec
5 Simon Bird
6 Martin Clunes
7 Andrew Marr
8 Ruth Wilson
9 Idris Elba
10 Cheryl Cole
11 Jamie Oliver
12 David Oyelowo
13 Charlie Brooker
14 Miranda Hart
15 Michael Portillo
16 Justin Lee Collins
17 Richard Hammond
18 Sophie Okonedo
19 David Mitchell
20 Ross Kemp