Corrie's Shobna & Barrowman are Rears of the Year

Corrie's Shobna & Barrowman are Rears of the Year
Corrie's Shobna & Barrowman are Rears of the Year (Image credit: PA)

Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati and John Barrowman have been named top of the bottoms. The pair were victors of the Wizard Jeans Rear Of The Year titles after winning a public vote. Shobna, who plays Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan, said she had to thank her mother for her prize-winning asset. "I am really honoured and flattered to be a winner of this year's competition and for my bum to be etched into the history of the award's alumni - a list which includes so many other distinguished bottoms," she said. "And I'd also like to say thanks - in the words of Will.i.am, 'I got it from my mama.'" Viewers have recently seen Shobna - who also appeared in sitcom Dinnerladies - return to former screen husband Dev in Coronation Street. Torchwood and Doctor Who star John, who is also known for his West End stage roles and won a Strictly come Dancing Christmas Special, joked: "With tush tightly toned, cheeks firmly clenched and a big smile on my face, I'm thrilled to be awarded the accolade." Previous winners of the title - now in its 30th year - have included Fiona Bruce, Gary Barlow and Rachel Stevens. Last year the awards went to Carol Vorderman and Anton Du Beke. Sally Allen, of sponsor Wizard Jeans, called the winners 'two excellent examples of this year's ideal rear'. "Shobna's slim but womanly silhouette is a fine example of the happy, healthy female form for 2012 and John's rear is clearly admired on an international basis, judging by the number of fans who voted for him. No doubt his dancing prowess helps to keep him in tremendous shape," she said.

Patrick McLennan

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.