Omar Sy is most popular in France

INTOUCHABLES star Omar Sy has been named France's most popular personality in 2012 - taking over from former tennis player Yannick Noah who had been number one for five consecutive years.

Noah slips back to third place. The second position in the annual poll is taken by actor Gad Elmaleh.

Sy was widely praised for his role in Intouchables, in which he plays a carer for a wealthy quadriplegic man.

President Hollande slipped from 15th to 45th position in this year's survey by Ifop, based on phone interviews with 1,000 people.