I'm amazed not to see the most obnoxious man on TV anywhere on your list. Anybody who has watched Paul (Flog it) Martin can only be utterly repelled by his false oily charm while he stands much too close to his victim & tries to get his arm around them, pretending to be interested in them. You can see the poor people visibly recoiling from this deeply unpleasant man.

For me personally the best presenters are Dan Cruikshank, Michael Wood, Paul Martin, Richard Holmes and ex-Python's Terry Jones and Michael Palin. As for the worst, where shall I start, mainly Natasha Kaplinsky (aren't I gorgeous and such a fab dancer), Davina McCall (aren't I soooo hip and cool) and the King of 'em all Richard Madely, he just makes me wanna spit!

jonathon meades - get this suedo ineterlectual plank off my t.v screen or i will stop paying my licence fee

I don't agree about Dominik Diamond. He's possibly the most intelligent, satirical and witty TV presenter I know of. Virtually everything he says is tongue-in-cheek, which is rare for a TV presenter. The only presenter who comes anywhere close in terms of making fun of themselves is Jonathan Ross... and he has his own chat show! Dominik should be doing more.

Haven't seen the Word list, so apologies if I'm re-opening old wounds, but Vernon Kaye has to be the pits. Pipe down Vern, I can hear you perfectly well from here even though you speak Broad Bolton. His missus, while pleasant to look at, is no shining beacon of presentership either.

Best presenter: John Humphreys, the thinking man's Paxo.

What have you lot got against the completely wonderful and beautiful Natasha Kaplinsky? How can you say those things when you don't even know her! Everyone thinks she's wooden and emotionless, would someone like that reply to emails and send me autographs? I don't think so! I know you'll all think I'm mad but don't judge her, you are in the minority, there are plenty of people who like her, Why has she attracted an extra 500,000 viewers to the BBC news if she's so awful?

Working with TV presenters on a daily basis, I can instantly sort the wheat from the chaff. I agree wholeheartedly with Ian McL in his assessment of Sian Williams - one of the best news presenters on telly.
The worst? Too many to mention but Natasha Kerplunksky is reason enough to argue that your Licence Fee really is being misused.

just saw jonathon ross on film 2005 interviewing some yank or other,and just could not beelive his make-up...ok its him so can beleive anything pretty much,but all same he had ernough eyeliner on and whitened face to make edward scissorhands look like he was blushing,and fact the two he interviewing could keep a straight face when talkling to him was just surreal as it obviously wasnt intended to be as stupid as it looked!

How can Claudia Winkleman make such a pathetic hash trying to be a TV presenter. I mean it can't be that difficult, all you need is a modicum of charisma, charm and intelligence, coupled with the ability to listen slightly to other people and sit still...er, maybe I see her problem. For her complete lack of any presenting skills WHATSOEVER she must be the worst TV presenter currently on TV. Am I ranting?...

80's tv
Steve Blacknall and Toyah on Riverside

Dominic Diamond. Craig Charles. Two men who make my living room sound like a tourettes sanctuary. They are both utterly without merit or ability and both 'rely' on a blokeish charm neither possess. In fact, any show about videogaming, must be presented, by law, by absolute imbeciles; generally people who seem as if 'videogames' are something they are told about 5 minutes before going on air and are frantically trying to remember anything relevant...

Dan Cruikshank manages to make absolutely anything riveting. He's so clearly amazed by the whatever he's talking about that I can't help joining him in it. Sticking his stuff on BBC2 on a Saturday night has to be the greatest counter-programming to the shower of brain-dead nonsense on the other channels ever.

Without seeing your list I would like to nominate for worst presenter ever Justin Lee Collins. Just how anyone thought this talented beardy moron would be good on TV is beyond me. He's offensive to look at as well as to listen to, and he can't manage to get a sentence out without laughing at his own inane gags.

GET OFF MY TELLY!

At last! Someone else who thinks Daniel Corbett is a genius. That man makes me smile every time I see him do the weather, and he's so personable - suits too big but a good heart. Never fail to smile when he mentions "a good day for taking the little doggie for a walk" or "...if you're off to sunday lunch at grandma's", etc.
Fab. Top bloke. More please.

I'm surprised that professional giddy kipper Fiona Phillips didn't get on the Worst Presenters - I swear she remains on GMTV because her husband Martin Frizzell is on the board of directors.

Yes, but surely... Penny Smith?

The best- Matthew Collings, Turner prize presenter and Bo Selecta "Bear" lookalike. Intelligent, funny, and looks cool in corduroy.
The worst- Jonathon Ross. Woeful hair, a sexist Div.

Jonathan Meades? Self-regarding pompous pseud of the worst order.And just why does he need to wear sunglasses at all times?

I've got to agree with the vote for Jonathan Meades. Everytime I see one of his visually rich, information overloaded programmes I wonder why no one else ever learns from his approach. Why do we endure such obvious, dull and static approaches to documentary and factual programmes. Anyone with an average IQ is bored to tears by most of them, nevermind stretched. And he even won Celebrity Mastermind, not that there was much competition.

june sarpong makes natasha kaplinsky look lively,for good presenters i have to agree with popworlds simon & macquita (i know wrong spelling !) they look like they enjoy what they're doing,dermot o'leary natrually funny without being o.t.t. and liza tarbuck who makes it look like your watching a darn good mate she was the good one out of the big breakfast partnership,witty,intelligent and not a screenhog like johnny vaughn

I don't see Michael Aspel listed here, which is a pity. "Ask Aspel" was supernova in the firmament of 70s TV. Also, James Burke, who since has seen no parallel or better in science reporting.

Terry Wogan - for steadfastly refusing to listen to the replies his guests were giving to his questions, for nine long years on BBC1. Granted he's not a journo by training like Parky, but surely common courtesy dictated that he listen to their answers and attempt something approaching the normal ebb and flow of conversation?

I totally agree with the nomination of Waldemar Januszczak. Always interesting, always quirky. Dan Cruickshank, as you say, is also excellent.

But the best of 'em all has to be Jonathan Meades. His series are always astonishing. Informed, bizarre, surprising, hilarious. Pompous, but always with that raised eyebrow. And his directors are consistently brilliant at framing him among his subjects. He spouts off for a while, in an effortlessly intellectual way, and then there's some even better bit of camerawork that makes you think again or burst out laughing. Wonderful.

In the Chris Barrie mould mentioned earlier, Mark Williams, hidden away on one of the discovery channels, waxing lyrical about steam trains & the like, in "off the rails", is rather good.Obviously a bit of a "spotter"in his time.

Ranting humpty, dwarf woman Davina McCall is reason enough to doubt the existence of an all-wise creator.

Yep Natasha Kap is stilted!

Sian Williams is a really natural relaxed presenter and immaculately turned out. The teamwork with Bill T or anyone for that matter, is ace.

Mic Fleetwood and Sam Fox - Brit Awards. Man, that stunk

Also, anything and I mean, anything, that involves Johnny Vaghuan

Richard Madeley - false, insincere, obsessed with 'women's problems' and with as much knowledge and wisdom of his purpose as a doorstop. Nauseating.

Another boot in for Natasha Kaplinsky. I think she's so wooden because the many layers of make up she insists on wearing prevent her from being too expresssive. I prefer the Bill Turnbull/Sian Williams combo we're treated to on Friday breakfast.
A good presenter ? Well, Chris Barrie's infectious enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment of his presenting role actually made me sit through about 10 episodes of C5's 'Massive Machines' recently - a series devoted to large machinery and vehicles. I barely know one end of a car from the other so I'd say that was some achievement !

It may be sacriligous but I ALWAYS found Murray Walker completely nauseous - despite James Hunts' great double act. Surely nobody can forget that poor Rallycross driver on the final bend "nothing can stop him now" cue almighty crash into banking and exploding debris all over the track!
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As to the best - all the "safe" choices are gone, but if we can include weathermen we used to have a marvellous one in the South called Ron Lobeck -he was not at home with the technology but such a star!

Oh yes, Allan Forrester (are you in Mojave 3?) you are so right. Dom and Dick are beyond disdain. And everyone above were correct about Davina McCall - vile! And what about her imitator Claudia Winkerman - oh mercy! And what about Kate Thornton, was she in there? Dreadful!

I think you may be suffering from interference with some of your nominations:Alan Hansen and Gary Lineker are GOOD? Are you on crack? Mind you, you're 100% on the money with Iain Lee as worst ever - My TV implodes whenever he comes on as he sucks the life right out of it.And gold medals to you for Simon Amstell as Best Presenter. I hope that someone finds another vehicle for his dry and often surreal talents soon. I'd nominate Five's "face of Art" Tim Marlow in the Best category as well- he makes talking about art can be like knitting piss in the wrong hands (step forward BBC's "The Culture Show":) but his accessible and informative shows do it just right.

One man seems to have escaped scot-free from this totally justified tirade of abuse against the "evil of banality" parade solely on the strength of his programme. Shuffle forward, Big Bland Ivory tinkler Jools Holland! His stuttering, off-the-cuff, poorly-prepared style may have suited the DIY ethos of the Tube, but the man is some 20 years older and absolutely no better! Does anyone ever tell him who's on his show?
I also loathe those blow-dried ponce-clones that GMTV sit next to the fabulous Kate Garroway.

What?! No Mick Fleetwood and Sam Fox nominated in the Worse category? Such short memories that people have; some of us were scarred for life by the Brits experience. Beyond this, a sub-category might encompass best and worst puppet presenters. Muppets good, Gordon the Gopher bad; Basil Brush good, Roland Rat bad.

Sorry, did someone just mention ROY HUDD and Emu? Now that I would like to see.
Simon Amstel to Steadman (out of Five Star) this week: "So, have you ever had a fruit come right in your face?" Only a matter of time before he's snapped up for the big time - catch him now while he's free to do his own thing.

Agree with the 2 comments above about Natasha Kaplinsky, absolutely dreadful. I can't understand how she got in the Word list of best presenters.

But I came, not to deride Kaplinsky, but to bury Clive Anderson. The epitome of smug. When he appears I have to be tied down, for fear of destroying the TV. Keep him off our screens (and off our radios for that matter). Must this nauseous, smirking, self satisfaction be forever rubbed in our faces?

I like Tony Robinson - he manages to be "viewer friendly" without being patronising, and was the perfect choice to demolish "The Da Vinci Code".

As for "worst" - how can you pick from all the Cat Deeley interchangable clones?

And then there are the walking embarrassments called "Dick and Dom". If they are the poor man's Ant and Dec, then what does poverty mean?

Wholeheartedly agree with the chap above who nominated Natasha Kerplank, possibly the orange nadir of British Broadcasting, which unfortunately includes renaissance cnut Robert Kilroy Silk.

Richard Madeley...I won't justify my reasons, my disdain is palpable.

Thank you for putting Michael Parkinson in the 30 worst tv presenters. You are spot on, except the man?s not so much resting on his laurels as flushed them away and jumped after them! And this is the man I once admired for his interviews with James Cagney and Pat O?Brien and Mohamed Ali. Although I always suspected, in his Roy Hudd and Emu one, he got what he deserved.
But, isn?t there always one! Jeremy Paxman in the 30 best? How can put this pleasantly? Oi, no! Granted his interview with Michael Howard was spot on and worked in the context of that interview. But for Paxman to repeat the process again, with the most spurious question to Gerorge Galloway, was totally boorish and banal. Paxman should stop repeating himself, otherwise, he?s going to end up like Parkinson, a moronic metronome.

PS. But I still think Word is the best magazine ever and so pleased that it?s carving it?s own niche rather than following the herd. If ever you have a sub offer for ten years (I?ve signed up to your 3 year one) send the details and I?ll sign up then and there!!!! Hey, forget that, forge my signature and send me the bill!!!

The worst? - Jonathan Ross - absolutely drives me up the wall. Easily the most obnoxious person on TV. And HE thinks he's the mutts nuts.

Sir Bob put him in his place though!!!!

As I see it, Davina McCall is just Jools Holland dressing up and having a bit of fun. If I'm wrong, then she is truly the spirit of the age.

I'm in full agreement with Jon Heal above - the gurning manga nightmare that is Davina McCall wins the worst category hands down.

And how did Sue Barker (the living embodiment of everything that's bad about Marks and Spencer - i.e. plenty) make it onto the best list?

Worst: Natasha Kaplinski who does the BBC Breakfast program. She's so wooden she probably uses Cuprinol instead of Chanel.

Best: Richard Holmes - TV military history blokey. Seems like a top guy, and I love the way he prounounces 'Bwitain'.

The incomparable Waldermar Januszczak, art critic for the Sunday Times and sometime arty documentary front-man. Slightly un-hinged but has an earthy passion for the subject that you can't help but share. The antithesis of Brian Sewell (equally entertaining though, it has to be said), Waldermar is the bloke's art critic, perfect for a chat about Van Gogh and Gaugin down the pub over a pint.

One garing omission from the worst presenters; Ok, yea, er Yea, ok it's Amanda de Cadenet

One presenter stands out as a particularly horrific buoy in a sea of mediocrity. A shrieking harpie with her volume permanently stuck on full, leaning towards you with those oddly dead, black eyes (like a doll's eyes...). Folks, I give you Davina McCall.

Worst? Where should I start? Can't stand those imitators of Jeremy Paxman (the man himself is brilliant). Guilty? Jeremy Vine. John Humphreys. Simon whatisname - a historian presenter. They just come across as ridiculously arrogant. Alan Titsmarsh irritates me for thinking he's that smart. Peter Snow for his daft presenting style, whereupon Adam Hart Davies follow in his colourful outfit. Is weather forecaster included? I would count Sian Lloyd. She makes me cringe when she does her presenting in a delicate smooth style as if heavy thundery rain represents fluffy clouds. Younger presenters are not listed, because they haven't developed their more often than not wooden or throw-in-your-face presentation enough to show their individual distinctive manners.

Simon Amstral - complete genius. Great choice again guys keep up the good work.

Oh, I've just noticed, John Barnes in on the list! Sorry!

I always thought Les Dawson's deadpan expressions on Blankety Blank were superb! As for the worst, I can't believe you omitted from your list John Barnes and his horrendous role as the anchorman on Channel Five's football coverage. The word 'wooden' suddenly springs to mind...

I've always thought that retired jockeys make the most woeful television presenters. Frankie Dettori manages to out-smug even the most fervent born-again christian, that bloke from the West Country with curly hair who did the Channel Four racing program looks a blond-child-stealing gypsy, and there's absolutely no excuse for Willy Carson on either side of the watershed...