Boaty McBoatface has been announced as the runway winner of a public vote to name a £200m polar research ship, potentially scuppering an attempt to honour a late Fulham explorer.
The joke name received 124,109 votes in the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) online poll to name the new vessel - nearly 90,000 more than its closest challenger, Poppy-Mai.
A campaign to name the ship in memory of Henry Worsley, a 55-year-old father from Fulham, who died during his bid to become the first person to cross the Antarctic alone in January , garnered 15,231 votes, leaving it in third place.
But it has not yet been sunk as the NERC said from the start that its members would have the final say on the ship's moniker.
Mr Worsley died just 30 miles short of completing his 1,000-mile trek. He had been supporting the Endeavour Fund, which helps wounded servicemen in their rehabilitation, and a flood of donations after his death brought the total to more than £360,000 .
Supporters felt naming the ship in his memory would be a fitting tribute to the former army officer, but the heartwarming bid foundered as the comic alternative suggested by DJ James Hand went viral.
Top five suggestions for new polar research vessel
RRS Boaty McBoatface 124,109
RRS Poppy-Mai 34,371
RRS Henry Worsley 15,231
RRS It's Bloody Cold Here 10,679
RRS David Attenborough 10,284
Some people have already taken to Twitter to express their disappointment, with one user claiming it was a "crazy idea" to ask the public to name such a prestigious vessel.
But they can take comfort from the fact Henry Worsley outscored naturalist David Attenborough three to two in the public vote, with the two men separated by another humorous entry, It's Bloody Cold Here.
The NERC tweeted on Sunday (April 17) morning to say the poll had now closed and to thank all those who had participated.
"We've had an extremely high volume of suggestions and will now review all of the suggested names. The final decision will be announced in due course," it announced on its website.
The 15,000 tonne floating lab, designed to operate in sub-zero temperatures, is due to take to begin service in 2019 and will assume the functions of RRS Ernest Shackleton and RRS James Clark Ross.
The name RRS Boaty McBoatface was first suggested by former BBC DJ James Hand, who tweeted on Sunday to say: "Thanks to everyone who took #BoatyMcBoatface in right spirit. Final say goes to @NERCscience, and there's plenty of worthy winners."
