Apart from up-to-the minute news coverage, the thing for which both The Times and The Sunday Times are most celebrated is their unrivalled team award-winning columnists. Here are the ten most read, and most commented upon, opinion pieces of 2008.

1: He ventured forth to bring light to the world

Gerard Baker in playful mood appraising the seemingly flawless Barack Obama. That the article featured a video of Gerard declaiming his piece in grand style only added to the appeal of this, far and away the most read comment piece of the past year.

2: The Clintons a horror film that never ends

Andrew Sullivan also had a mischievous tone, but a harder edge as he deconstructed the Clinton myth ahead of the Democratic primary showdown.

3: Nicole Kidman drifts about like a lost porcelain doll

Melanie Reid’s acerbic skewering of Australian national treasure Nicole Kidman excited a predictable gale of comment from southern climes, driving her appraisal of the pale and interesting actress into our number three spot.

4: Sarah Palin its go west towards the future of conservatism

Gerard Baker again, this time offering an assessment of the extraordinary vice-presidential candidate who during her brief campaign was the most talked-about women on the planet.

5: Eventually we will all hate Obama too

David Aaronovitch’s thoughtful examination of anti-American sentiment looked forward to the change of heart that might be engendered among the chattering classes by an Obama administration

6: Yes its politically incorrect but race matters

Anatole Kaletsky may have been somewhat inaccurate in his prediction of Obama’s chances against McCain, but his thought-provoking evaluation of the issues facing America’s first black presidential candidate made for fascinating reading in April.

7: Barack Obama the speechmaker is being rumbled

A third Gerard Baker piece, again about the always remarkable US election contest, commenting on a momentary slip in the polls that threatened, albeit briefly, to derail the Obama campaign just when it had looked to be unassailable.

8: If I ruled the world by Jeremy Clarkson

A compilation of our most outspoken columnist’s assertions about…well…virtually everything was an entertaining diversion in the early weeks of 2008.

9: House prices disaster ahead

Anatole Kaletsky was right on the money this time with his chilling prophecy about a house price crash carrying with it the spectre of negative equity,

10: Dont screw up Democrats Barack Obama is your man

Andrew Sullivan’s February insightful roundup of the runners and riders in the US election race came down firmly on the side of the eventual victor.