Early morning TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has been voted the celebrity Britons would trust the most when buying a new car.

In interesting news for those pursuing sales jobs, most of the people quizzed by the AA said they would trust the softly-spoken Scot over all other celebrities. Her genuine manner singled her out as the most reliable car salesperson, taking pole position ahead of Jeremy Paxman who came in second.

The presenter of University Challenge and Newsnight, who started off his media career on Cambridge University newspaper Varsity, was sited as the most trustworthy sales man. Some 18 per cent of male drivers said they would trust the straight-talking authoritative journalist to give them the best deal.

Paxman's previous work on local radio as an investigative journalist and his role in some of the biggest political issues of recent times could perhaps be the reason why consumers would trust him to be truthful. His cheeky questions in the past may have got him into trouble with the BBC and politicians but his hunt for the truth and a fair deal seem to suggest he'd make an excellent salesman.

Other celebrities in the top ten include one-time psychiatric nurse Jo Brand. Five per cent of consumers would buy a car from the comedienne – more than would trust Only Fools and Horses character Derek Trotter and Steve Coogan's hapless Radio Norfolk DJ Alan Partridge.

Brand, who regularly appears on panel shows including Have I Got News For You and QI, didn't plan for a life in comedy, but started out on a path towards the NHS.

The larger-than-life star left home at 16 and headed to Brunel University in London to study nursing. Her hard work paid off and after finishing her course took up a job as a psychiatric nurse in the capital.

She left nursing in the late 1980s to pursue a full-time career in comedy, and, according to this poll, could give up the spotlight for a sales job if she fancied another career change.

The AA study revealed some interesting facts about the sales industry, suggesting that a growing number of people prefer to buy things – in this case cars – from women.

"Our research started out as a bit of fun, but actually says quite a lot about the characteristics that people associate with being a trustworthy salesperson," said Mark Huggins, head of AA Personal Loans.

"With the gender balance in the car market shifting, women being just as likely to buy a second hand car as men, it makes sense that many would prefer to buy a car from a woman."

Other trustworthy celebrities in the study were Olympic marathon winner Paula Radcliffe - the top choice for ten per cent of car buyers – Carol Thatcher and Sharon Osbourne.