London, Dec 25: Late Aussie actor Heath Ledger's role as the Joker in `The Dark Knight' has beaten US President George W Bush to bag the title of 'Greatest Villain Ever'.

The Batman baddie took the No 1 spot in a survey by Chewits.

Bush, 62, won the second spot because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Star Wars legend Darth Vader came third and Freddy Krueger, the gruesome villain from the Nightmare On Elm Street movies, was in fourth place.

Animated baddie Cruella De Vil''s desire for a Dalmatian coat earned her fifth place.

"Everyone has a secret love of pantomime, it's a true British tradition. Even those nasty characters get a laugh on stage, it's all an act for them after all," the Daily Star quoted Chewits marketing manager Tim Boote, as saying.

The top ten `Greatest Villains Ever' are:

1 The Joker

2 George W Bush

3 Darth Vader

4 Freddy Krueger

5 Cruella De Vil

6 Tricky Dicky

7 Tony from EastEnders

8 Wicked Witch of the West

9 Jaffar from Aladdin

10 The shark in Jaws (ANI)