10th-4th: 2010 Most Popular Character

So, as to create some tension this page will work start with 10th at the top and 4th at the bottom of the page leaving just those on the podium. My artwork won't extend to a podium so you might just have to imagine it.

10. Miles Copeland (42 points)

Miles, brother of Sally and Stewart sort of has a poisoned chalice taking over from uber-popular Sally and I think it would perhaps be silly of us to expect him to have matched and a position in the top ten in what his first crack at this is a solid result. (He was just arriving in the last vote). Time will tell whether is he just a character that was good, or whether he too will become an icon of the bay.

8=. Leah Patterson-Baker (48 points)

This has been Leah's best performance by far in the four votes we've had and I think it might have something to do with the increased number of storylines Leah has been given this year. Then again, Leah has periods of great drama, followed by 18 months of nothing and ever year seems to start with a promise of more storylines for her and ends with "Do you want milk with your coffee?"

8=. Martha Holden (48 points)

Until she allegedly did some naughty things which I won't mention in case Jodi decides to sue me, she was the apple of Seven's eye. Despite the fact that she is very much a Marmite character, they pushed her to the front of everything. Then it went to pot and the relationship cracked and she's now shot of to pastures new. It's a shame that it had to end away because SevenTwo viewers are just about to see her debut and she was a great link to the past.

7. Alf Stewart (49 points)

Alf always finishes around 10th in these polls which is not surprising anymore, but probably highlights the more peripheral role that the character has played over the past few years. Gone are the days where in every single episode one of the kids would do something to set him on fire. It was no wonder that with the stress they caused him he's had a few heart attacks.

5=. Irene Roberts (64 points)

Irene continues to bobble along in the top 5 after winning the first ever vote despite the fact that she's not actually had a storyline since 2005. Well she had that alcohol one last year, but that was so dismal we'll just forget about it and it's frustrating. You've got a good solid group of actors and OK, you don't need to have them raped, shot and fall in love with their cousin in the same week, but surely they are worthy of being given a storyline every now and again.

5=. Matilda Hunter (64 points)

The great debate in the Discussion Thread. Has Matilda made it? Well, yes, she has and she's in the top 5 as well. Whilst admittedly I didn't expect her to be this high up the actual thought that she would score no points is just as unlikely. Whilst admitttedly Indiana Evans is very nice to look at, her storylines were either boring or flawed and for a year, she and Ric almost had their own spin-off within the show, so detached were they from everyone else.

4. Belle Taylor (66 points)

I was actually very surprised with this. I know the poll probably fell at the wrong time for Adelle-mania, but I didn't actually expect Belle to produce this. I actually thought it would be an Adelle 1-2 and that she finished in 4th is much a shock as the cancer that killed her was. Though, since we knew about that for about 6 months, perhaps that isn't the best comparison.

OK, you don't have to be Poirot to work out who the first three are, but what order, find out Wednesday.