CAPTAIN Kirk has been voted the best Star Trek captain ever to beam aboard the Starship Enterprise.
Actor William Shatner, who played the dashing space chief in the 1960s, managed to beat off stiff competition from the Shakespearean actor Partick Stewart who has played Captain Jean-Luc Picard from 1987.
Trekkies said they loved Kirk’s swashbuckling sense of adventure and his way with the ladies when they voted him as their number one.
Kate Mulgrew who made history by becoming the Starship Enterprise’s first female captain during the 1990’s came a creditable third.
The poll was conducted by leading sci-fi website Totalscifionline.com to mark Friday’s release of the new Star Trek movie which sees Kirk recast with a younger actor for the first time.
Shatner wanted part
Shatner is said to be disappointed that he has not been asked to appear in the new film.
He has said in interviews that he wanted a part in the film, but director JJ Abrams was unable to work the older Kirk into the storyline.
Shatner played the role for almost 30 years starring in 80 of the original television episodes and seven feature films.
His last appearance ended with the death of Kirk, after saving the galaxy for one last time.
Actor Chris Pine, 28, plays the fresh-faced Captain Kirk straight out of the Starfleet Academy.
One of TV’s greatest heroes
Captain’s Benjamin Sisko and Jonathan Archer, from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Enterprise respectively, completed the Trek fan’s top five line-up.
Matt McAllister, editor of Totalscifionline.com, said: “Kirk’s charisma and spirit of adventure, not to mention his success with the opposite sex, has ensured that he has become one of television’s greatest heroes.
“Though every captain has his or her supporters, Captain Kirk still commands the most loyalty, 43 years since he first appeared on our TV screens.”
