Tony Blair makes list of world's 100 most influential people

The former Prime Minister is one of the "heroes and pioneers" listed in the magazine's annual list, published today – but the "leaders and revolutionaries" group notably misses out his successor, Gordon Brown.

In a piece he wrote for the magazine, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said he had advised his friend Mr Blair to take some time off to spend with his family and make a list of issues he wanted to pursue after stepping down in 2007.

"Tony listened to my advice graciously but ignored it completely by immediately accepting a new job as Middle East envoy for the Quartet," Mr Clinton wrote.

The announcement of Mr Blair's appointment to the so-called "Quartet" of Middle East peacemakers - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - came hours after his resignation.

It is Mr Blair's first time on Time's 100 list. Mr Brown made the list in 2005.

The 2008 Time 100 list, appearing on the magazine's website this morning and in print tomorrow, is led by the Dalai Lama, while Russia's Vladimir Putin is second. Also included is Chinese president Hu Jintao, Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and African National Congress President Jacob Zuma.

The catalogue of movers and shakers are media mogul Rupert Murdoch, U.S. President George Bush and his potential successors contenders Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton.

Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton made the list last year as well.

The Time roll-call includes more than three times as many men as women and draws nominees from 23 countries.

Celebrities on the list include Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, singers Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen and Mariah Carey, and filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. Chat queen Oprah Winfrey appears for a fifth time, having made the list more often than anyone else.