Phil Silvers, who played Sgt Bilko, died in 1985

It was one of nine American shows in the top 20 list, while 11 British sitcoms made the cut.

The guide listed Seinfeld as number two and Fawlty Towers at three.

"Sgt Bilko is sitcom's high-water mark. In 2005 it'll be 50 years old and yet it is still hilarious," said the guide's compiler, Mark Lewisohn.

This is the second edition of the Radio Times Guide to Comedy, published on 2 October, bringing together details of more than 3,000 shows including sitcoms, satire, animation and stand-up.

Top 10 sitcoms 1. The Phil Silvers Show 2. Seinfeld 3. Fawlty Towers 4. Porridge 5. Yes Minister 6. Frasier 7. M*A*S*H 8. Til Death Do Us Part 9. Hancock's Half Hour/Hancock 10. Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Source: Radio Times Guide to Comedy

Mr Lewisohn, a TV historian and writer, said he was surprised that the Phil Silvers Show has been "buried in America, while in Britain it is still revered".

Worst

He added: "Seinfeld, second only to Bilko, was also outstanding for most of its 176 half-hours, and though the 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers were sublime, to sustain such excellence week after week, year after year, gives it the nod over John Cleese's masterpiece".

The list of 20 sitcoms only includes two shows that are still being made - The Simpsons and Frasier, which is due to finish at the end of the current series.

The worst sitcom of all time was named as the short-lived 1980s ITV comedy Bottle Boys, which starred Robin Askwith and David Auker as milkmen.

Other sitcoms that made it into the top 20 best list include Porridge, Yes Minister, Steptoe and Son, Only Fools and Horse and the Mary Tyler Moore Show.