UK loves Microsoft more than the BBC

Think of your favourite brand. If you're from the UK, apparently, you're most likely to be thinking of Microsoft.

According to research carried out for branding consultancy Superbrands by YouGov, the Redmond giant is the UK's favourite brand - beating the BBC to the top slot.

Microsoft trounced the Beeb and 499 other companies to get its 'favourite brand' crown. Other tech companies also made the top 20, including Google in sixth place. The search giant is now more favoured than the US 'musical fruit' maker Heinz, according to the research.

Microsoft also beat archrival Apple into 25th place, behind better loved brands including Black & Decker, Nurofen and Durex.

Telecoms also made a showing with Nokia scoring a 12th placing and BT in at 21.

However, a parallel top 500 drawn up by Superbrands' council of marketing experts showed a markedly different tech slant.

In the experts' opinions, Apple was the second best brand and Microsoft the fourth. Google failed to impress the judges, scraping a 60th placing.