Stephen Fry voted top dinner guest

Stephen Fry voted top dinner guest (Image credit: Paul Smith)

Stephen Fry has been voted the country's most desirable dinner companion. The comedian beat Cheryl Cole, Colin Firth and David Beckham, who came second, third and fourth respectively, as he topped the list compiled by Taste Of London. Gary Rhodes said: "It comes as absolutely no surprise that humour is so highly valued in the UK - I, for one, would love to eat out with Stephen Fry!" He added: "Great food and drink are just two ingredients needed for a perfect dining experience." Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and their kids were picked as the best family to dine with, ahead of the Obamas, the Royal Family and the Beckhams. Katie Price, aka Jordan, was the nation's least favourite dinner date, ahead of restaurant critic Michael Winner, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Victoria Beckham. Tickets for Taste Of London, in partnership with British Airways, are on sale now. The restaurant festival takes place in London's Regent's Park from June 17 to 20.

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.