SINGER Morrissey has topped a poll to find England's most "northern" male.

The former Smiths frontman beat singer and comedian George Formby into second place, and celebrated a double success as his band pipped the likes of The Beatles and Oasis to be named most northern rock band.

Comedienne Victoria Wood was chosen as the most northern female, with fish and chips the most northern food and the Liver Building the north's most iconic building.

Coronation Street beat Life On Mars and Shameless to the title of most northern TV drama, The Royle Family won the TV comedy category and Ronnie Barker's tight-fisted shopkeeper Arkwright from Open All Hours was named most northern fictional character.

More than 50,000 people voted in the online survey conducted by Manchester art gallery The Lowry .

The shortlists were chosen by visitors to the gallery's current exhibition The Myth Of The North, celebrating all things northern.

:: Most northern male personality:
Morrissey 51%

George Formby 41%

Alan Bennett 1%

Fred Dibnah 1%

Liam Gallagher 1%

Peter Kay 1%

:: Most northern female personality:

Victoria Wood 44%

Gracie Fields 15%

Caroline Aherne 13%

Jane Horrocks 10%

Cilla Black 9%

Sarah Cox 3%

Melanie Sykes 3%

:: Most northern rock band:

The Smiths 43%

The Beatles 23%

Oasis 14%

The Hollies 6%

Stone Roses 3%

Pulp 1%

Arctic Monkeys 1%

Jerry & The Pacemakers 1%

The Fall 1%

:: Most northern food and drink:

Fish and chips 20%

Yorkshire pudding 14%

Black pudding 9%

Lancashire hot pot 9%

Chips and gravy 7%

Newcastle Brown Ale 7%

Boddingtons 6%

Pies 5%

Vimto 5%

Curry 3%

Eccles cake 3%

John Smiths 2%

Scouse 2%

:: Most northern landmark:

Liver Building 43%

Old Trafford 23%

Blackpool Tower 10%

Lake Windermere 7%

Angel of the North 5%

Lancashire mills 3%

Gormley's Crosby Beach statues 2%

B of the Bang 1%

Gateshead Millennium Bridge 1%

:: Most northern TV drama:

Coronation Street 26%

Life On Mars 17%

Shameless 13%

Boys From The Blackstuff 9%

Queer As Folk 7%

Cracker 7%

Cold Feet 5%

Cutting It 1%

Emmerdale 1%

Brookside 1%

:: Most northern TV comedy:

The Royle Family 31%

Phoenix Nights 21%

Open All Hours 15%

The Likely Lads 12%

Last Of The Summer Wine 9%

Bread 6%

The Liver Birds 3%

What do you think? Have your say in our poll.