Cheryl Cole named world's sexiest woman

Cheryl Cole named world's sexiest woman (Image credit: Anwar Hussein/PA Photos)

Cheryl Cole has topped another beauty poll, being named FHM's World's Sexiest Woman 2009. The Girls Aloud and X Factor star, who said recently she hates looking thin and gets nicknamed 'flatty batty', knocked last year's winner Megan Fox down to second place, with Hollywood star Jessica Alba in third. Cheryl's victory is the first for a Brit in three years. Last year Britney Spears languished at number 31, and following a mixed year for the singer FHM bosses thought she would drop out completely. But following an online campaign by fans, she claimed fourth place. After wowing the United States, Anna Friel secured a place at number nine and Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto is a new entry at number 10. Women with brains as well as looks stormed into top 100. News reader Fiona Bruce and Countdown's Rachel Riley both made debuts, at numbers 98 and 95 respectively. Now in its 15th year, nearly 10 million votes were cast by FHM readers worldwide this year. Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

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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.