Prayut and Issara were the top choices among males with 38.2 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively, actor Nadech Kugimiya came third at 4.9 per cent. On the female list, actress Patcharapa “Aum” Chaichue, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and actress Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund were the top three at 7.5 per cent, 5.5 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively.

More than 70 per cent of the 1,178 people polled from March 31 to April 4 said they expected this year’s Songkran water battles to be subdued in comparison with previous years.

Most of those surveyed wanted the authorities to prevent violent water battles and brawls in Songkran celebration zones (77.4 per cent), curb sales of alcoholic beverages (63.4 per cent) and prevent revellers from wearing too-revealing clothes (59.2 per cent).

The most popular places for Songkran celebrations were Chiang Mai’s Khu Muang canal (36.9 per cent) followed by Pattaya and Bang Saen in Chon Buri (22.9 per cent) and Khao San Road (17.5 per cent) and Silom Road (12.5 per cent) in Bangkok.