To celebrate Star Wars Day, we reveal our favourite characters in George Lucas’ sci-fi series.

From R2-D2 and C-3PO to the Ewoks, here’s a run-down of our most beloved characters. But who’s your favourite – and did they make the list?

May the 4th be with you!

12. Emperor Palpatine

Ian McDiarmid is best known for playing Emperor Palpatine (Eric Risberg/AP)
Ian McDiarmid is best known for playing Emperor Palpatine (Eric Risberg/AP)

Portrayed mostly by Ian McDiarmid, the charismatic Sheev Palpatine, who is the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, leads a secret life as the villainous Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith.

As Sidious, he not only starts the Clone Wars but destroys the Jedi, making him one of the least favourite characters in our poll.

11. Boba Fett

Boba Fett costumes on display (Elaine Thompson/AP)
Boba Fett costumes on display (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Boba Fett, who has been portrayed by a number of actors including Jeremy Bulloch and Mark Austin, is an enigmatic bounty hunter raised in the mercenary image of his “father” Jango Fett. He is hired by Darth Vader and also works for Jabba the Hutt.

10. C-3PO

Anthony Daniels portrays C-3PO (Ian West/PA)
Anthony Daniels portrays C-3PO (Ian West/PA)

C-3PO, played by Anthony Daniels in all the Star Wars films, as well as in the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is a pernickety gold droid, who is always by R2-D2′s side.

Despite being fluent in “over six million forms of communication”, C-3PO’s constant whining has not endeared him to many viewers and he is often the butt of his mechanised mate’s jokes.

9. Ewoks

These endearing and cuddly teddy-bear lookalikes are hunter-gatherers living on the forest moon of Endor in huts and simple dwellings. Warwick Davis portrayed Wicket, who helped Princess Leia and the other Rebels in 1983′s Return Of The Jedi.

The Ewoks have even appeared in their own made-for-television spin-offs – Caravan Of Courage: An Ewok Adventure in 1984 and Ewoks: The Battle For Endor in 1985.

8. Luke Skywalker

Mark Hamill (Ian West/PA)
Mark Hamill (Ian West/PA)

He may be the Jedi hero in three Star Wars films, but Luke Skywalker couldn’t use the Force to help him get a good rating on our list.

Played by Mark Hamill, Luke is the twin brother of Rebellion leader Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, Han Solo’s friend, an apprentice to Jedi Master Obi-Wan ‘Ben’ Kenobi, and the son of fallen Jedi Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) and Queen of Naboo/Republic Senator Padme Amidala.

7. Obi-Wan Kenobi

An Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure (PA)
An Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure (PA)

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has been portrayed by Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor.

In the original film trilogy, Alec’s version is more a mentor to Luke Skywalker, teaching him the ways of the Jedi, while Ewan’s alter-ego in the prequels is a master and friend to Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker, who later becomes the Sith Lord, Darth Vader.

6. Princess Leia

You would have thought her feisty nature and sharp-shooting talent, not to mention that gold bikini and recognisable double side-bun hairstyle – pulled off brilliantly by Carrie Fisher – would have given her a bigger boost in the ratings.

But Luke Skywalker’s twin and Han Solo’s love interest Leia fails to make our top five.

5. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers (Joel Ryan/PA)
Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers (Joel Ryan/PA)

Born Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi – hailed by some as the “chosen one” who would defeat the dark side of the Force – instead becomes a Sith Lord in the form of Darth Vader.

Famous for uttering one of the most memorable lines in film history, when he tells an unknowing Luke Skywalker: “I am your father,” Anakin/Vader – who has been portrayed by David Prowse/James Earl Jones and Hayden Christensen amongst others – is considered as one of the big-screen’s greatest villains of all time, giving him a worthy top five place in our poll.

4. Chewbacca

Chewbacca (Elaine Thompson/AP)
Chewbacca (Elaine Thompson/AP)

This tall, furry Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, played by Peter Mayhew in all the Star Wars films, is Han Solo’s fiercely loyal companion and is a co-pilot on Han’s Millennium Falcon, making him one of our favourite sidekicks. According to Han, he is always thinking with his stomach.

3. Yoda

This syntactically-muddled green creature, who is often the voice of wisdom and reason in his own way, trained Luke Skywalker to fight against the evil Galactic Empire in the original series of films, and serves as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order in the prequels.

He has been famously portrayed and voiced by Frank Oz – the man behind The Muppets’ Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear and Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover.

Judge him by his size, do you? Well the diminutive one makes our top three, proving that good things come in small packages.

2. R2-D2

R2-D2 (Paul A Hebert/Invision/AP)
R2-D2 (Paul A Hebert/Invision)

With all the 2s in his name, it’s very apt that C-3PO’s sidekick would come second in our poll.

The cheeky and resourceful astromech droid, who helps Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Star Wars saga, has been played by English actor Kenny Baker in all six original Star Wars films, and who will reprise his role in the seventh film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

And the winner is…

1. Han Solo

Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia (George Brich/AP)
Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia (George Brich/AP)

The smuggler-turned-reluctant hero in the movies. His dashing good looks and ready supply of wisecracks make Han Solo a clear winner in our list.

Played by Harrison Ford, Han is the gung-ho pilot of the Millennium Falcon who becomes a key figure in the Rebel Alliance, and who wins the heart of Princess Leia.

And it is only apt that we give the last word in our poll to our winner: “Now let’s blow this thing and go home!”