LONDON, December 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Madonna was the most popular celebrity in 2006.

She beat the likes of Charlotte Church and Robbie Williams to top a survey of the most popular personalities requested by people searching on the entertainment search engine Celebrities Worldwide. Richard Brecker of www.celebritiesworldwide.com said: "The results show quite emphatically that more people were interested in Madonna than any other celebrity or reality star this year." Her ability to stay ahead is phenomenal - particularly in such a difficult year."

The singer attracted great controversy over the much publicised adoption of her son David from Malawi and has also reportedly faced marriage difficulties with her husband Guy Ritchie.

It has not been a good year for David Beckham who has slipped from No 4 ranking as the most requested name in 2005 to his current number 11 spot.

Beckham relinquished his captaincy of the England soccer team following their poor showing in the World Cup, has been dropped from the squad by new manager Steve McLaren and has struggled to hold a regular place in the first team at Real Madrid.

But some consolation - Becks still finishes five places higher this year than his publicity hungry wife Victoria

Little Britain TV star Matt Lucas in 10th position proves a bigger hit than his co-star David Walliams who trails four places behind Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, star judges on the hit TV series "X Factor" battle it out at 31st and 32nd spot respectively. One time showbiz outcast Noel Edmonds has catapulted back into the reckoning through the success of his TV show "Deal or No Deal"

Celebrities Worldwide is accepted as a benchmark of celebrity status and popularity and its website attracts more than 4 million visitors per year.

TOP 100 NAMES of 2006

1. Madonna 2. Charlotte Church 3. Jamie Oliver MBE 4. Robbie Williams 5. Jonathan Ross OBE 6. Billie Piper 7. Ricky Gervais 8. Jeremy Clarkson 9. Stephen Fry 10. Matt Lucas 11. David Beckham OBE 12. Gordon Ramsay OBE 13. Trinny Woodall 14. David Walliams 15. Fearne Cotton 16. Victoria Beckham 17. Elton John 18. Kylie Minogue 19. David Tennant 20. Rachel Stevens 21. Peter Kay 22. Davina McCall 23. Graham Norton 24. Paul McCartney 25. Dawn French 26. Russell Brand 27. Paul O'Grady 28. Coleen McLoughlin 29. Noel Edmonds 30. Richard Hammond 31. Simon Cowell 32. Sharon Osbourne 33. Nigella Lawson 34. Ewan McGregor 35. David Attenborough 36. Vernon Kay 37. Chris Moyles 38. Terry Wogan 39. Catherine Tate 40. Michael Palin CBE 41. Keira Knightley 42. Chris Evans 43. Zoe Ball 44. Chantelle Houghton 45. Elizabeth Hurley 46. Bill Bailey 47. Brad Pitt 48. Bob Geldof KBE 49. David Hasselhoff 50. Vic Reeves 51. Jarvis Cocker 52. Kevin Spacey 53. Paul Merton 54. George Clooney 55. Kate Moss 56. Jo Brand 57. Lenny Henry 58. Bruce Forsyth CBE 59. Angelina Jolie 60. Victoria Wood 61. Johnny Vegas 62. Will Young 63. Jade Goody 64. Edith Bowman 65. Kelly Holmes 66. Johnny Depp 67. Joanna Lumley 68. Cliff Richard 69. Emma Bunton 70. Denise Van Outen 71. Jude Law 72. Ian McKellen 73. Patrick Stewart OBE 74. John Cleese 75. Ian Hislop 76. Janet Street-Porter 77. Martine McCutcheon 78. Meera Syal MBE 79. Paris Hilton 80. Jools Holland 81. Jordan 82. Steve Coogan 83. Cilla Black 84. Dermot O'Leary 85. Richard Branson 86. Tom Cruise 87. Myleene Klass 88. George Michael 89. Cat Deeley 90. Ainsley Harriott 91. Kate Winslet 92. Ray Winstone 93. Sting 94. Geri Halliwell 95. Sara Cox 96. Jeremy Paxman 97. Gary Lineker 98. Carol Vorderman MBE 99. Bono 100. Dannii Minogue

Please ensure namecheck for www.celebritiesworldwide.com is published in all copy Logos available and for further information, please call Celebrities Worldwide on tel: +44-7836-246-777; email: info@celebritiesworldwide.com or visit www.celebritiesworldwide.com