Unlikely hero: Couch potato Homer Simpson

The ham-fisted but lovable head of the Simpson family is - so far - topping the list of 10 famous Americans with over 40% of the votes in the strictly unscientific survey.

The poll is being carried out ahead of a live 90-minute global television debate about America's place in the world, which the BBC will screen along with 10 other national broadcasters.

Who is the greatest American? Homer Simpson: 40.83% Abraham Lincoln: 10.28% Martin Luther King Jnr: 10.06% Thomas Jefferson: 6.43% Mr T: 8.38% Bob Dylan: 6.15% George Washington: 5.10% Franklin D Roosevelt: 4.34% Benjamin Franklin: 4.52% Bill Clinton: 3.92% Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion To take part in the poll, click here

Homer Simpson is the firm favourite with 40.38% of the vote so far, well ahead of Abraham Lincoln (10.28%) and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King (10.06%.

The country's first president, George Washington has attracted only about 5% of the more than 20,000 votes cast.

But languishing at the bottom of the list is former President Bill Clinton with just 3.92%.

The 10 shortlisted candidates came top in nominations from News Online readers.

Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Fourteen percent of all people know that Homer Simpson

There is still time for you to register your vote before What the World Thinks of America is screened on Tuesday.

Hosted by the BBC's political editor Andrew Marr, it will be shown in the UK on BBC Two at 2100 BST.

It will also be broadcast on the programme's website.

Other countries taking part are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.