It's D'ohmeo and Juliet

For Romeo, you'd better read D'ohmeo. Shakespeare's best-known lovers have been beaten in the romance stakes - by Homer and Marge Simpson.

The cartoon duo, who were born in a TV studio 17 years ago and star in the longest-running sitcom in US history, have been voted the greatest fictional couple of all time.

Romeo and Juliet, who were brought to life in a manuscript 409 years ago, came second.

This is despite the fact they have been portrayed in countless performances over the centuries and in more than 30 TV and movie adaptations.

In third place were Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who made their first appearance together in the 1928 cartoon Plane Crazy. Heathcliff and Cathy from Emily BrontÃ's Wuthering Heights - immortalised in a dozen movies and in the Kate Bush single of the same name - were fourth.

Friends stars Monica and Chandler Bing came fifth in the survey by the stage show, Disney On IceSM.

In sixth place were Grease's high school lovers Danny Zuko and Sandra D, played on film by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.

They were followed by Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, Mr and Mrs Potato Head (yes...), Peter Pan and Wendy, and Mr Big and Carrie from TV series Sex And The City.