The line "My heart is, and always will be, yours" from Sense and Sensibility has been voted the most romantic line from romantic literature, film and TV drama, ahead of Valentine's weekend.
The study - which was specially commissioned by TV channel Drama to celebrate its Leading Man Weekend, which launches on Saturday 13th February - polled 2,000 British women to establish the top 10 list, with Hugh Grant's line in the Oscar-winning film adaptation coming top with 16% of the vote.
Top 10 Most Romantic Quotes in Literature/Film/TV
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"My heart is, and always will be, yours." - Sense and Sensibility (16%)
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"I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you. - Dirty Dancing (14%)
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"Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me... it brought me to you. And I'm thankful for that, Rose. I'm thankful. You must do me this honour, Rose. Promise me you'll survive." - Titanic (11%)
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"When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." - When Harry Met Sally (11%)
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"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." - Wuthering Heights (10%)
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"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." - Notting Hill (10%)
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"I love you. I really love you." "Ditto." - Ghost (9%)
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"And at home by the fire, whenever you look up there I shall be. And whenever I look up, there will be you." - Far From The Madding Crowd (8%)
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"But for now, let me say without hope or agenda to me, you are perfect, and my wasted heart will love you..." - Love Actually (8%)
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"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." - Pride And Prejudice (7%)
Baby Houseman's (Jennifer Grey) line from Dirty Dancing declaring her love for Patrick Swayze's Johnny Castle came second (14%), whilst Jack's (Leonardo DiCaprio) frozen speech in Titanic rounded out the top three.
The list also included "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same" from Wuthering Heights which took fifth place and received 10% of the votes. At number eight was Far From the Madding Crowd's Gabriel Oak (Alan Bates) line from the classic Thomas Hardy novel. Rounding out the top ten was the classic Pride and Prejudice line, memorably delivered by Colin Firth as the dashing Mr. Darcy from the 1995 TV mini-series: "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
Vicky Walker, Programme and Schedule Manager of Drama, said,
With Drama launching Leading Man Weekend this for Valentine's Day, we felt this was great opportunity to celebrate some of the romantic programming we have on the channel. This is a weekend for romance, and viewers can enjoy back-to-back Pride and Prejudice all day on Valentine's Day.
Leading Man Weekend begins on TV channel Drama on Saturday 13th February, and continues throughout Valentine's Weekend (13th - 14th February)
Leading Man Weekend is the only destination for British TV heartthrobs this Valentine's Weekend. Starting on Saturday February 13th, it will feature top acting talent from Eddie Redmayne and Martin Shaw, to Sean Bean and Michael Fassbender. With ideal Valentine's programming including Pride and Prejudice, A Bear Named Winnie and Inspector George Gently shown over the course of the weekend - don't miss this marathon of Britain's best male stars.
Saturday 13 Feb
7.10am - Tess of The D'Ubervilles (starring Eddie Redmayne)
12pm - Catherine Cookson: The Gambling Man (starring Robson Greene)
3pm - Sharpe's Peril (starring Sean Bean)
5pm - A Bear Named Winnie (starring Michael Fassbender)
7pm - Inspector George Gently (starring Martin Shaw)
Sunday 14 Feb
7.10am - North and South (starring Richard Armitage)
11am - Pride and Prejudice (starring Colin Firth)
For more information, please contact:
Toby Leston at Taylor Herring, TL@taylorherring.com, 0208 206 5151
ENDS
About Drama
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Drama is a channel that is passionate about bringing you Britain's best-loved dramas. From period through to contemporary and comedy, the channel is a treasure trove of classics which showcase the greatest stories ever told in an entertaining and engaging way.
With programmes including Call The Midwife, Pride and Prejudice, Sharpe, New Tricks and Silent Witness, viewers can indulge in a handpicked range of the nation's most celebrated TV dramas.
drama.uktv.co.uk / @Drama_Channel
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