Richard Hammond is more appealing to women than David Beckham and Russell Brand is nearly as unpopular as Cherie Blair according to a new survey by leading online tyre retailer Blackcircles.com

The shock results were revealed after the UK-wide survey asked the public which celebrity they were most likely to stop for and least likely to stop for if the star needed help changing a tyre.

Hammond, who came to national prominence following a near-death car crash while filming for Top Gear, was the favourite of the bunch coming out on top of the celebrities the public would most likely stop.

The surprising results show that females are more likely to stop and help the Top Gear presenter change a flat tyre than giving Posh Spice’s sexy hubby a helping hand on the side of the road.

Hammond topped the survey ahead of Atonement star Keira Knightley and football legend David Beckham who was in third.

The Top Gear presenter was the most popular with females, with Beckham in second, while men were more likely to offer their tyre changing expertise to actress Keira Knightley and former glamour girl Abi Titmuss.

However, disgraced Russell Brand was high on the list of celebrities that the public were least likely to stop for if the star needed help changing a tyre.

The results show that wildman Brand, who came to national attention alongside fellow Radio 2 DJ Jonathan Ross last month, is only marginally more likely to get help from the public when changing a flat tyre than the ex-Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair.

Brand was the most unpopular celebrity amongst men with 22% saying they would be least likely to stop and help the big-haired comedian if he found himself with tyre trouble.

Cherie Blair and Kerry Katona have obviously not made themselves popular among women who were most likely to leave the pair struggling at the side of the road. Thankfully for Kerry, taxi driver husband Mark Croft should know a thing or two about cars.

Mike Welch, Managing Director of Blackcircles.com, said: “The results of the Blackcircles.com survey are very surprising. Perhaps Beckham is starting to lose his appeal but there was no doubt about the result – when it comes to a motoring crisis the appeal of Hammond is simply irresistible to women.

“Cherie Blair and Russell Brand make an odd pairing but perhaps it is a wake-up call for both of them.

“We all need a helping hand from other people at some stage and as you never know when that is going to be it is worth thinking about how you treat other people.

“The survey was generally great news for women as it shows the age of chivalry might not be over with the men putting a damsel in distress at the top of the people they would be most likely to help.

“On a serious note defective tyres can be a danger to every motorist and it is vitally important that people take the time to check them on a regular basis, especially if you are Cherie Blair or Russell Brand.”

Blackcircles.com is the UK’s leading online tyre retailer, delivering low cost tyres to around 200,000 motorists a year.