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