RACHEL GREEN

(Jennifer Aniston)

Rachel first appeared on Friends in her wedding dress. She had just dumped her fiance at the altar after realising she found him less interesting than a Tiffany gravy boat, one of their wedding gifts. She is self-absorbed and a little vain, but can laugh at herself. She vies with Monica for the title of "best looking female Friend".

Women who choose Rachel:

They are independent and spirited. Favourite store is Harvey Nichols, favourite credit card their boyfriend's.

Men who choose Rachel:

Are interested in glamour as much as character but have a protective streak.

PHOEBE BUFFAY

(Lisa Kudrow)

Phoebe is the kooky one who dresses like a cross between a hippy and a Sunday school teacher. One of her boyfriends is called Pete The Weeper because he used to cry every time they had sex.

Women who choose Phoebe:

They have a good sense of humour. They tend to be vegetarians, animal lovers and bad poker players.

Men who choose Phoebe:

Are eccentric, caring and extrovert by nature. They do not mind if people think they are a little bit different. They also have a tendency to weep in bed.

MONICA GELLER

(Courteney Cox)

Obsessed with cleanliness, cooking and sex. A professional chef with a complex love life -- she sleeps with a man 20 years her senior (Tom Selleck) throughout the second series.

Women who choose Monica:

Are sensual, warm but neurotic. They know what they want but get confused when they find it, making relationships difficult.

Men who choose Monica:

Want a challenge from their women. They need conversation after sex and somebody who looks great in work-out clothes. These men usually have more high-powered jobs than Rachel fans.

JOEY TRIBBIANI

(Matt LeBlanc)

Hunk with a low IQ and an enormous sex drive. Joey thinks Hugh Grant is Lou Grant. When asked what he would do if he was omnipotent, Joey, confusing it with impotence, says he would commit suicide. He has never met a tall blonde he did not like or a difficult word he understood.

Women who choose Joey:

They like their men slow on the uptake and easy on the eye.

Men who choose Joey:

Are uncomplicated, fun-loving and tend to be unreliable. They share Joey's single-minded interest in the opposite sex.

CHANDLER BING

(Matthew Perry)

The show's court jester, its resident thinker. Chandler occasionally gives the impression he cannot believe his buddies are so dumb. He has a wisecrack for every occasion -- except when it comes to women, when he loses his touch completely.

Women who choose Chandler:

Are looking for a long-term relationship. They think laughs are more important than looks and have strong maternal instincts, which are brought out by Chandler's lovable vulnerability. He is number one with American female fans.

Men who choose Chandler:

Are sensitive and complex but probably do not have the kind of credit cards that appeal to Rachel.

ROSS GELLER

(David Schwimmer)

The man who loves Rachel. He has a baby son, an ex-wife, and once had a monkey. Ross is also a paleontologist, making him the one Friend with a genuine professional career.

Women who choose Ross:

Tend to be self-confident and successful. They find Ross' vulnerabilities appealing and know they have the inner strength to cope with them. They are independent spirits, with a warm heart and strong sex drive.

Men who choose Ross:

Preferred science at school and played chess, not rugby.