James Bond voted 51st in `Most Influential People Who Never Lived` chart

Santa Claus, Barbie and Mickey Mouse have been named as some of the most influential 'imaginary people' of all time - reports Metro.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer, fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and superhero Batman also made the 101-strong list, comprised by Americans Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan and Jeremy Slater in their book 'The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived'.

Only characters that have managed to 'shape society, change our behaviour, and set the course of history' made the cut.

The authors got the idea for their book - which lists The Marlboro Man, the cowboy used to advertise Marlboro cigarettes, Big Brother, of George Orwell's totalitarian novel '1984', and King Arthur as its top three - while reading a tome which listed the most influential people in history.

Lazar, a retired physician, said: 'The point of the book is to entertain.'

Each entry in the list is accompanied by a short description, explaining the significance of the character - be it good or bad.

Secret agent James Bond, who comes in at 51, is praised for his 'intrigue, sex appeal and British suavity with the highest technologies of modern age'.

Much-loved children's character Cinderella, who claimed the number 26 spot, was blasted for 'degrading stepmothers and encouraging people to rely on magic, not themselves'.

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