It may not come as a shock to anybody but Paul Gascoigne, a genius on the football pitch, has been voted Britain's least intelligent person off it, according to a survey out this week.

The former England midfielder won the votes of almost a third of 1,004 people questioned by the Focus scientific lifestyle magazine. His 31 per cent share put him way ahead of topless model Melinda Messenger, a veritable genius in comparison. Ten per cent thought she was the most stupid of them all. Geri Halliwell, the former member of the Spice Girl pop group, also figured among the top names.

The same research revealed Virgin's tycoon boss Richard Branson was seen as the country's most intelligent person, while Prime Minister Tony Blair, with 25 per cent to Margaret Thatcher's 22 per cent, was nominated the politician. Wonder how Vinnie Jones figured ?