The 1970s show penned by John Cleese and Connie Booth has proved to be the international favourite in a poll by BBC Worldwide. David Weiland, head of BBC Prime, was very pleased with the result: "Classic comedy is a big winner internationally and we are delighted Fawlty Towers has come up trumps yet again."

Runners-up included Keeping Up Appearances in second place and Blackadder Goes Forth in third.

The most recently broadcast show to make the top ten was Coupling, now a huge hit in the US.

Despite being recently voted British viewers' favourite, Only Fools And Horses only came eighth in the eyes of international voters.

Perhaps a little surprisingly, Ricky Gervais' award-winning The Office failed to make the top ten at all.