Ricky Gervais beats David Cameron in phone-in poll
Ricky Gervais has beaten Tory leader David Cameron in a radio poll. However, the Conservative leader can take comfort in beating stars such as Ray Winstone and Sir Terry Wogan in the public vote. The poll was held by Absolute Radio for the station's Who's Calling Christian? contest, which saw Ricky land a £20,000 prize for charity. More than 60 celebrities and public figures have phoned into Christian O'Connell's breakfast show with programme chiefs whittling down the callers to a final shortlist of five. Ricky took almost 39 per cent of the votes on Wednesday, with Cameron on 25 per cent. The Office star said: "Beating David Cameron was the important thing. If he can't beat me, how's he going to beat Gordon Brown? I'm made up that I've won, now I don't have to enter Britain's Got Talent or I'm a Celebrity." He will donate his winnings to Wildlife Aid, the Mayhew Animal Home in London and Animals Asia's Moon Bear appeal. "I really am pleased and glad for the charities - they'll leave me alone for another year now." Ray Winstone polled 20 per cent while Sir Terry drew five per cent. The other shortlisted entrant Michael Winner gained 11 per cent of the votes. Christian said: "Is this is a sign of things to come? Could Ricky Gervais be the next Prime Minister?"
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.