The Independent has published its annual Twitter 100 and this year it is topped, controversially according to some, by Virgin chairman Richard Branson who displaces the more engaged Sarah Brown.

It is a slightly bizarre list on several fronts. The Top Ten is not a top ten at all, but rather a top 13 as there are so many people in joint positions. Later in the list there are four people at joint 80 and a whopping seven at joint 90. Still it holds some interesting choices.

The Independent Twitter 100 was compiled with the help of a panel of experts and PeerIndex, and measured authority, audience and activity, which sort of leaves you wondering why they simply couldn’t come up with a list that wasn’t littered with so many joint placing?

The list is maybe unsurprisingly dominated by celebrities although the Independent explains that some “appear to make little impression” on their followers. Comedians and journalists also put in a good showing.

As a number one choice Branson is interesting. The amazing business success story that he is rarely replies and his stream appears as a series of mostly corporate Virgin announcements and Virgin links. A good choice as No 1? He does have 1.8 million followers and they like to retweet his words of wisdom.

The Independent Twitter 100 Top 13

1. Richard Branson, Tycoon

As the Indy says itself “An unexpected and, to some of our panel, controversial number one…hardcore Twitterati maybe alienated by the corporate nature of some of his output, and by his reluctance to reply to his followers’ comments”.

Followers 1.8 million @richardbranson

2=. Sarah Brown, Campaigner

Last year’s No 1, the ever popular Sarah Brown, wife of former Labour leader Gordon Brown who blew his chance as prime minister:

“The modest queen of tweeting has had to give up the crown” but her “pre-eminence remains remarkable: her transformation from Prime Minister’s wife to formidable campaigner is almost entirely attributable to her savvy use of Twitter”.

Followers 1.1 million@sarahbrown

2=. Alan Carr, Broadcaster

A genuine Twitter star, the Indy says whose Channel 4 TV show Chatty Man is as popular as ever.

Followers 2 million @AlanCarr

4=. Ricky Gervais, Actor and comedian

Love/loathe him or feel a mild indifference. Gervais is a recent Twitter convert. He has offended many with tweets such as: “Good monging everyone”.

Followers 1.9 million @rickygervais

4=. Rob Brydon, Actor and comedian

Currently being seen in the very enjoyable The Trip with Steve Coogan is a favourite with many.

Followers 745,0000 @RobBrydon

4=. Chris Moyles, Broadcaster

Popular with Radio 1 listeners I’m guessing if not with all of them: “recently passed the two million follower mark with a possibly tongue-in-cheek tweet referring to himself as the “pied piper of cool”.

Followers 2 million @ChrisDJMoyles.

4=. Jamie Oliver, Chef

TV shows, ads, food. Bish bash bosh. Who doesn’t love some Oliver? Okay some of you.

Followers 1.9 million @jamieoliver

8. Eddie Izzard, Actor, Comedian

Another comedian, but one with some serious acting credentials to his name.

Followers 2.3 million @eddieizzard

9. Derren Brown, Illusionist

The Indy tells us that we should not “assume that, just because he follows only 29 people, Brown is a half-hearted Twitter enthusiast”. Well, I do occasionally jump to such conclusions I have to say.

Followers 1.0 million @DerrenBrown

10. Jack Wilshere, Footballer

You mean the Indy has put someone who is not Joey Barton (a lowly 33 is @joey7barton with his 1.2 million followers clearly not Indy material following his Times piece).

in their top ten who is also a footballer? Well this Arsenal rising star player who has spent his season in the treatment room is deemed Britain’s top football’s tweeter.

Follower 1.2 million @JackWilshere

10=. James Corden, Actor

Love him or not, fresh from hosting the Brits Corden post-Gavin & Stacey has his hands in many pies.

Followers 1.9 million @jkcorden

10=. Stephen Fry, Actor, Comedian

What would Twitter be without Stephen Fry. Unthinkable says the Indy. Quite.

Followers 3.9 million @stephenfry

The next few includes Lord Sugar (surprised he is not higher).

13. Lord Sugar @lord_sugar Followers: 1,641,388

14=. Jimmy Carr @jimmycarr Followers: 1,924,585

14=. Rio Ferdinand @rioferdy5 Followers: 2,264,863

16. Leigh Francis @leighfrancis Followers: 1,369,886

17. Dara O’Briain @daraobriain Followers: 795,400

18=. David Mitchell @realdmitchell Followers: 606,197

18=. Simon Pegg @simonpegg Followers: 2,018,179

20=. Olly Murs @ollyofficial Followers: 1,689,286

20=. Darren Bent @DarrenBent Followers: 362,214

Top 29 media tweeters + bloggers

Interesting list here, bloggers scoring a lot higher than senior journalists.  With Paul Waugh, Sunny Hundal and Sandra Hagelstam all higher than say Catlin Moran of The Times (60=) Rory Cellan -Jones at the BBC (65=) and Guardian editor Alan Rushbridger (77=).

Also interesting that Guido Fawkes is out of the list. Agree of disagree it is a bizarre decision to leave him out as are some of the inclusions here equally odd. Guido and Waugh have been discussing it this morning (see above grab – click to enlarge).

1. Robert Peston, BBC business editor, followers 1.2 million @peston (29)

2. Felix Salmon, Reuters financial journalist (36=) @fexlixsalmon followers 51k

3. Faisal Islam, Channel 4 News @faisalislam (38) followers 31k

4. Paul Masoin, BBC Newsnight (38=)paulmasonnews followers 34k

5. Paul Waugh, Politics Home (46=) @paulwaugh followers 24k

6. Sunny Hundal, Liberal Conspiracy (46=) @sunny_hundal followers 19k

7. Tim Bradshaw, FT media journalist (46=) @tim followers 22k

8. Jonathan Freedland, Guardian (49=) @j_freedland followers 20k

9. Andrew Sparrow, Guardian (54=) @andrewsparrow 17k

10. Sandra Hagelstam, 5 Inch and UP(56=)  (fashion blogger), @5inchandup 7k.

Thes of the Indy’s Top tweeters