If it was done before, I didn't see it, so I'll vote for George.

EDIT :

To clarify for Masked Tortilla, I meant George Harrison.

I would guess that unless anyone specified Sir George Martin, they would also be meaning George Harrison - other posters please feel free to correct me if I have misunderstood their intentions.

By a process of elimination...

Ringo - basically seems like a good bloke, but can be a bit of a knobhead at times. Keeps flashing peace signs... not a good look. Great drummer.

Paul - his 'I'm just a normal bloke' shtick doesn't really sit well with me. Paul, you're not a normal bloke, you're a musician frequently touched with genius who was in The Beatles. Despite that comes across as likeable. Recorded 'Ebony and Ivory'.... we haven't forgotten, nor have we forgiven. Plays with that enormous drummer nowadays... that's dead cool. Was ridiculously handsome in his youth - bastard.

John - bit of a screw up, arguably gave rise to 'Emo' by making it acceptable to explore one's inner pain in song. That is BAD. Had one of the all-time great rock n' roll voices and was a brilliant songwriter - a plus. Not very pleasant to women by some accounts; definite minus. Wrote two very funny books that made me laugh a great deal as a kid - good work.

George - modest, wrote some fabulous songs despite being in the shadow of the greatest songwriting partnership of all time. Banged on about his spiritual faith a lot which could have been really boring, but he was sincere so that's OK. Lost his virginity in some grubby room in Hamburg with the other Beatles giggling in the background - I feel terribly sorry for him so that's a plus. Made a series of pretty poor solo records (with one notable exception) - low point. The way he pronounces the word 'hair' as 'her' as on All Things Must Pass - definite plus point.

So after all that I guess my answer has to be George.

looked ace in those early photos.However of the fab four - it was always George for me - he looked best on my little pink Beatles guitar from 1966 ish - and in the 'silly' four lads jumping in the air type shots he looked the coolest too.

Bungo.

He did more for the Beatles, for longer, than any of the others.

George
Paul
Ringo
John

The "Something" hitmaker.

George for me too.

Ringo is next and then Paul.

but is George.

It has to be George

as George appeared to resent his Beatle-ness for much of his ensuing lifetime.

Derek.

but, if you'd asked me this question at any time in my life up till about twelve months ago, I would have said unhesitatingly: "John". Then about a year ago it suddenly dawned on me that the honest answer is actually George. There are a few things to forgive (Taxman and Piggies are really embarrassingly bad songs), but, overall, he seems to be the most admirable of the four.

Aside from the half decent tub thumping, he gains bonus points for his Michael Angelis impression AND his bonkers "no autograph" statement...

Peace out.

Dung.

Actually I was quite surprised that nobody beat me to it!

Paul
Ringo
Yoko
John

Solo outings have been taken into consideration.

P.S. Why does everyone seem to hate 'Taxman'? Great riff, great solo ... what's not to like?

Always Paul.

Without him there would have been no Beatles after 'Revolver'.

Of course I realize that, in some quarters, that might be seen as a bad thing. But he instigated ( and damn near created ) some of the Beatles finest moments including 'Sgt Pepper' and the wonderful medley on 'Abbey Road'. He also wasn't afraid to experiment and got things wrong sometimes ( er...'Magical Mystery Tour' anyone? ). But he could toss off a pop masterpiece and record it all by himself ( 'Come and Get It' ) whilst George and John were lazing about in Weybridge watching telly. It's always cool to like the two miserable Beatles but, in retrospect, I think it's fair to argue that Paul was probably the one true genius in that band.

Apple was his idea too.

And 'Carnival of Light'. He was also one of the organizers of Monterey. And was involved in London art galleries and bookshops.

Oh, and he was pretty nifty on bass. And guitar ( better than either George or John ), piano, drums...and he was always the best singer. And the best-looking.

We like him in G Towers.

Paul.

(Although George Martin is my real favourite!)

the one real genius in the band In My Life, Strawberry Fields, I am The Walrus, Happiness Is a Warm Gun enough said

at an early age.

...then I'll go for George.

When I was a kid, Paul was my favourite, which makes me wonder - is your favourite Beatle determined by your relative maturity?

ie: If you're a small child, then your favourite would be Ringo; an older child - Paul; adolescent - John; adult - George.

Having checked in the mirror, I realise Archie was holding his racket/axe left-handed..so that'd be Paul then - and I concur...love them all though...

Isn’t the great thing about The Beatles the fact that they were very much a “group” i.e. that it was the combination of all four members’ talents, personalities, interests etc. that mattered and that none was more important than any other.
Derek Taylor‘s answer to this question was always: “the one I was last with”. Watching the Anthology’s a bit like that. You like them all in different ways, for different reasons, but they’re all smart, funny, interesting and basically “good guys”. This is why I don’t really have a favourite.

Solo years: Paul. Simply made more good records than the others.

I thought I'd alone in this but he seems to be getting the majority vote

..but I have a least favourite. Let's just say that when I found out that Mr Lennon was an enthusiastic, almost obsessive masturbator towards the end of his life I, for one, was not surprised.

Harrison or Martin,"the 5th Beatle"....

Tried to concentrate on my decision, but Stuart Maconie's Freakzone distracted me. He's playing a version of "I Am The Walrus" sung by small children. Rather well.

(Lol Coxhill, apparently, was the guilty man).

As a kid - John
now - still John, I guess.

It's a sign of my continuing immaturity.

I know he had serious flaws and could be nasty and cruel, at least until he took LSD and mellowed a bit, but he seems the most interesting one. He had the sharp quips, wrote most of the Beatles songs I like best, was actually quite successful at non-music creative activities, and was the best singer, I reckon.

McCartney - sometimes cloying and annoyingly pleased with himself in his doe-eyed delivery. I know he did great things too, which out-weigh the downside.

Harrison - lovable but not much to say. Did one of best ever Beatles' songs though with Something.

Ringo - lovable as a Beatle, not so much nowadays. I am not that much of a fan of his 'fun' songs, though I am of his drumming - a big fan.

Who isn't my favourite Beatle.

Which one was Who? Was he on first?