The group were the only non-Americans to make the Top 10 of the 100-strong list compiled by Entertainment Weekly.

The magazine said: "If all the Beatles ever did was whip up a teen froth in the early 1960s, they'd still rank among the most amazing acts of the century.

"But what the Beatles accomplished before, and in spite of the gale-force squeals - that's what qualifies John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as the greatest entertainers of our time."

Singers dominated the Top 10, with Elvis Presley second, Madonna fifth and Michael Jackson eighth.

Elvis Presley: Came second on the magazine's list

Television shows rated highly too, with Saturday Night Live - the legendary US comedy show which spawned the careers of Eddie Murphy, John Belushi, Bill Murray and others - rated seventh.

The Simpsons is rated tenth - outstripping Monty Python's Flying Circus, which is 77th.

Other British entries include Albert Hitchcock at 14, the Rolling Stones at 15, Elizabeth Taylor at 18 and David Bowie at 55.

The magazine calls its list "the people our great-grandchildren will still recognise in 2099".

At the weekend the Beatles were named best band of the millennium in a UK poll conducted by Channel 4, Classic FM and the HMV retail chain.

John Lennon was also named most influential musician and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was voted best album, with Revolver coming third.

Entertainment Weekly Top 10:

1. The Beatles

2. Elvis Presley

3. Marilyn Monroe

4. Steven Spielberg

5. Madonna

6. Frank Sinatra

7. Saturday Night Live

8. Michael Jackson

9. Lucille Ball

10. The Simpsons