David Tennant's incarnation as Doctor Who has been voted the coolest TV character.

The time-travelling doctor beat federal agent Jack Bauer, played in the hit US show 24 by Kiefer Sutherland, to second place.

Christopher Eccleston, 43, the actor Tennant, 35, replaced as the doctor on the BBC sci-fi show, did not make the top 10.

The poll for radiotimes.com was conducted to find the coolest character - defined as laidback and sexy - on TV.

The Fonz in the Seventies TV show Happy Days, played by Henry Winkler, now 61, came third.

Colin Firth's heart-fluttering turn as Mr Darcy in the TV adaptation of Jane Austen favourite Pride And Prejudice is fourth, followed by The Cat in Eighties comedy series Red Dwarf, brought to life by Danny John-Jules.

No women made it into the top 10 list, voted for by more than 4,000 TV fans.

Sixth place went to chauvinist DCI Gene Hunt in Life On Mars, played by Philip Glenister, while his politically correct fellow cop Sam Tyler does not get a look-in.

Big Brother's Little Brother host Dermot O'Leary, in seventh position, was the only non-fictional character to make it into the top 10, while The Magic Roundabout's stoned rabbit Dylan (ninth) is the sole animated character.

Others in the top 10 include Columbo (Peter Falk) and Sawyer in Lost (Josh Holloway).

Radio Times deputy TV editor David Butcher said: "David Tennant is so hugely popular as the Doctor - he looks like becoming a bit of an icon.

"There are surprises on the list, like the fact the top 10 is all male.

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010