The most romantic line in film and television has been revealed

They are uttered by Edward Ferrars to Elinor Dashwood in director Ang Lee’s 1995 screen version of Jane Austen’s classic novel.

The line, which is from Emma Thompson’s Oscar-winning screenplay, was the top choice of 2,000 British women who were polled for the TV channel Drama.

It gained 16% of the vote, placing it ahead of heart-melting moments from Dirty Dancing, Titanic, Wuthering Heights, When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill, Ghost, Far From The Madding Crowd, Love Actually and Pride And Prejudice.

Actress Jennifer Grey delivered the second most popular romantic line, and 14% of the vote, with a speech from the 1987 box office hit Dirty Dancing.

Her character Baby Houseman tells Patrick Swayze’s Johnny Castle: “I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.”

The scene in the 1997 epic Titanic where a frozen and fearful Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, tells his sweetheart Rose, played by Kate Winslet, “promise me you’ll survive” rounded out the top three with 11% of the vote.

The New Year’s Eve party scene from When Harry Met Sally made it in to fourth place with 11% of the votes.

It sees Harry, played by Billy Crystal telling Sally, played by Meg Ryan: “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Emily Bronte’s line “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same” from Wuthering Heights took fifth place and received 10% of the votes.

The list was created as the Drama channel launches its Leading Man Weekend for Valentine’s Day.

The list also includes “at home by the fire, whenever you look up there I shall be … ” spoken by Gabriel Oak, in Thomas Hardy’s novel Far From The Madding Crowd, at number eight.

A speech from Colin Firth’s memorable appearance as Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC TV series of Austen’s Pride And Prejudice comes in at number 10.

The voters liked the romance of Mr Darcy telling Elizabeth Bennet: “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

The Top 10 Most Romantic Quotes in Literature/Film/TV are:

1. “My heart is, and always will be, yours.”
Sense And Sensibility – 16% of the vote.

2. “I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.”
Dirty Dancing – 14% of the vote.

3. “Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me … it brought me to you. And I’m thankful for that, Rose. I’m thankful. You must do me this honour, Rose. Promise me you’ll survive.”
Titanic – 11% of the vote.

4. “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
When Harry Met Sally – 11% of the vote.

5. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
Wuthering Heights – 10% of the vote.

6. “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
Notting Hill – 10% of the vote.

7. “I love you. I really love you.” “Ditto.”
Ghost – 9% of the vote.

8. “And at home by the fire, whenever you look up there I shall be. And whenever I look up, there will be you.”
Far From The Madding Crowd – 8% of the vote.

9. “But for now, let me say without hope or agenda to me, you are perfect, and my wasted heart will love you…”
Love Actually – 8% of the vote.

10. “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
Pride And Prejudice – 7% of the vote.