A poll carried out by Penguin has revealed that Jeremy Clarkson’s book, For Crying Out Loud, has topped a poll of Britons’ favourite beach reads of all time.

The outspoken ‘Top Gear’ presenter’s book has been voted as the number one beach read of all time, beating off competition from blockbusters including Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’ and classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

More than 7000 Britons voted for their favourite beach read in an online poll compiled by Teletext Holidays and Penguin.

Chick-lit queen Marian Keyes came in at number two with her bestselling paperback This Charming Man, followed by modern classic The Beach by Alex Garland, which was turned into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Victoria Sanders, managing director of Teletext Holidays, said: “Books and the beach go hand in hand so we wanted to find out what makes the perfect page turner for the sun-lounger. The list has thrown up a few surprises - we never though Jeremy Clarkson would come out on top. But his book had an overwhelming response and definitely got the male vote. Nearly all the nominations for Clarkson came from the chaps.

“Female readers opted for a varied mix of comedy, murder, classics and feel-good romance which proves that people have different ideas about what they pack in their suitcase.”

The top five beach reads of all time were voted as:

1. For Crying Out Loud - Jeremy Clarkson
2. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
3. The Beach - Alex Garland
4. The Beach House - Jane Green
5. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

For the full list visit www.teletextholidays.co.uk

Via EPR Network