They pipped the Fab Four in a live contest, trouncing other finalists The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Take That.

More than 20,000 listeners voted by email, text and phone. The five finalists had been selected over the previous week by Radio 2 listeners.

DJ Mark Goodier then hosted a three-hour live New Year's Day show.

After all the votes had been totted up, the winner was then announced live on air - and it was revealed that Queen had beaten the Beatles by just 400 votes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6224235.stm