PRESS RELEASE: Sky
Written: Friday 25th June, 2010
FAIRY GOOD
NEWS COPY
Cinderella was yesterday (Thurs) voted the nation's favourite fairy tale of all time - in a poll of adults.
The classic story, which dates back to the 1st Century BC in Ancient Egypt, has been adapted into pantomimes, operas, ballets and films around the world.
Le Prince de Beaumont's 1740 adapted tale Beauty and the Beast of a young prince who must find love and be loved in return, came second.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843 came third, while The Wizard of Oz was fourth.
Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs completed the top five.
The research was carried out among 4,000 adults by Sky Broadband to launch their search for the best alternative endings to fairy tales.
Yesterday pop queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who is fronting the campaign, said: ''I adore Cinderella and I love reading it to my children.
''It's the nation's favourite fairytale because it's the ultimate rags to riches story.''
Other stories to make the grade included Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (6th), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (7th) and Peter Pan (8th).
Sleeping Beauty came ninth and The Boy Who Cried Wolf was tenth.
The survey found seven out of ten parents regularly read fairy tales to their children.
More than half of parents said their kids emulate the characters they read about.
Six out of ten parents still believe fairy tales help them to explain life's morals to their children and to understand right from wrong.
Two thirds of mums and dads also agree fairy tales help the development of a child's imagination and four in ten said it's a great way of connecting with their kids.
Eleven emerged as the age at which youngsters are deemed too old to enjoy fairy tales.
People can submit their 140 character or less alternative endings via www.sky.com/happilyeverafter or by using the hashtag #HEA.
Sophie Ellis Bextor added: ''To help keep us in touch with our inner child I'm helping to launch the 'Happily Ever After' competition through my Twitter site.
''I'm encouraging my followers and others to submit their alternative endings to fairytales that they enjoyed as children - in 140 characters or less.''
NATION'S TOP 20 FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
1. Cinderella
2. Beauty and the Beast
3. A Christmas Carol
4. The Wizard of Oz
5. Snow White
6. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
7. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
8. Peter Pan
9. Sleeping Beauty
10. The Boy who cried Wolf
11. The Three Little Pigs
12. Little Red Riding Hood
13. Robin Hood
14. The Ugly Duckling
15. The Gingerbread Man
16. Three Billy Goats Gruff
17. Hansel and Gretel
18. The Emperor's New Clothes
19. Dick Whittington
20. The Little Mermaid
ENDS
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com
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