Derek Christopher Shepherd, also known as "McDreamy", is a fictional surgeon portrayed by Patrick Dempsey in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. McDreamy had been married to Dr Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) for 12 years before divorcing in 2006. McDreamy went on to be happily married to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and the couple had three children together and were often referred to as "Mer and Der" before his death in the show.

2. Grey's Anatomy: McSteamy

Mark Everett Sloan is also a fictional surgeon on Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by Eric Dane. Specialising in plastic surgery, Dr Sloan's good looks earned him the nickname "McSteamy" from the female interns of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. He was good friends with McDreamy before ending his marriage as he slept with Derek Shepherd's wife, Addison. Later, Sloan pursues a "forbidden" relationship with Dr Lexie Grey which again strains his relationship with Shepherd. In the show's ninth season, he dies of injuries from a plane crash.

3. Sex and the City: Big

John James "Mr Big" Preston is a primary on-and-off love interest of protagonist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in the HBO series Sex and the City and she refers to him as Big – a reference to his reputation as "the next Donald Trump". Big, portrayed by Chris Noth, appears in the pilot episode as an attractive stranger who helps Bradshaw pick up the contents of her purse. The two frequently bump into each other in the first few episodes, until Big finally suggests the two of them should "bump into each other on purpose". Bradshaw agrees, beginning their on-again, off-again relationship.

4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Angel

Angel, played by David Boreanaz in the fantasy TV program Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the spin-off series Angel, is a love interest for heroine Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), whose destiny is to fight the forces of evil, such as vampires or demons. The relationship is complicated by the fact that Angel is a vampire cursed with remorse and a human soul, which motivates him to assist Buffy in her duties as Slayer. Angel – originally known as Liam – was an 18th-century Irishman who became a vampire and assumed the name Angelus, then becoming famous as the most sadistic vampire in European history.

5. ER: Doug Ross

George Clooney's breakthrough TV role came in the character of Dr Douglas Ross in the series ER. Raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family, Ross is a highly capable paediatrician and well-established womaniser. He is smart as well as attractive to women and likeable for men, and stops flirting only when work requires. He has always been committed to medicine and children and to helping, no matter the rules or consequences.

6. Happy Days: Fonzie

Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, also known as Fonzie or The Fonz, is the motorcycle-riding and leather-jacket-wearing bad boy known for his trademark "Aaaaay!" in the American sitcom Happy Days. Played by Henry Winkler, Fonzie is a high-school dropout, prompting a reputation as a rebel and bad influence. He attempts to return to school but decides it isn't for him and drops out again. Fonzie has high moral code and treats others with respect and sticks up for those that can't defend themselves. Portrayed as successful with women, very few women turned down his advances or made him nervous. Although he had a reputation of womanising, he always treated whoever he was dating with respect.

7. Beverly Hills, 90210: Dylan McKay

Dylan Michael McKay, played by Luke Perry, is a pivotal character introduced in the first series of Beverly Hills, 90210. Having received a big inheritance, Dylan became rich before graduating from high school, and lived alone throughout much of his time on the show. Dylan is portrayed as a loner, prone to taking retreats and associating with only a few people at a time.

8. Dawson's Creek: Pacey Witter

Pacey Witter is a high school sophomore and academic underachiever in Dawson's Creek who uses humour and sarcasm to relate to people, as well as to hide his emotional pain stemming from his unhappy childhood. Witter, played by Joshua Jackson, has low self-esteem as his family often calls him a "loser" right in front of him. His father is an alcoholic and domestic abuser who ignores or bullies Witter every chance he gets. Witter is a romantic at heart, seeking from women the love and affection he never received from his parents.

9. Moonlighting: David Addison jnr

David Addison jnr is a fictional character who works for the Blue Moon Detective Agency in the television series Moonlighting. Introducing Bruce Willis to the world, the show is a mix of mystery, sharp dialogue and sexual tension between the two leads, Addison (Willis) and Madelyn "Maddie" Hayes (Cybill Shepherd). Addison is cocky and confident, while also caring and considerate.

10. The Office: Jim Halpert

Proclaimed as handsome and tall by his colleagues, James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is intelligent, mild-mannered and defined by a rivalrous pranking on fellow salesman Dwight Schrute in the US version of the sitcom The Office. Halpert, played by John Krasinski, has a romantic interest in receptionist Pam Beesly. They begin dating in the fourth season, get married in the sixth, and have children in the sixth and eighth.