Dr Who is No1 fantasy

Doctor Who has been voted the best British fantasy TV show of all time in a poll out today

BBC2's Red Dwarf, the comedy revolving around the dysfunctional crew of a spaceship that travels around the galaxy, came second in the survey.

Douglas Adams' The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, which recently made a return to its birthplace with a new series on Radio 4, came third.

Blake's 7, the BBC's flagship sci-fi show screened between 1978 and 1981 came fourth, followed by Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner.

Sapphire and Steel, the Seventies sci-fi series about a special force of interdimensional operatives starring Joanna Lumley, is sixth.

Fifties sci-fi classic Quatermass, which the BBC recently remade as a live production, came seventh in the poll compiled for sci-fi magazine SFX, followed by the vampire-hunting adventures of Ultraviolet, starring Jack Davenport.

Sixties espionage show The Avengers took ninth place followed by Robin of Sherwood, whose hero is also set for the remake treatment by the BBC.

SFX editor Dave Bradley said: "There has always been great affection for Doctor Who. It's a great British institution which has entertained people for generations.

"The recent series has just introduced a whole new generation to the concept and reignited our love for it."

"We scanned over 68 years of home-grown shows and this list shows we have some of the best and most talented writers, producers, directors and actors and actresses in the UK."

Around 4,000 people took part in the poll.