It's a discussion that pops up at social gatherings, in job interviews or by the water cooler: If you were hosting a dinner party - the ultimate dinner party - who would you invite and why?

Perhaps you would ask an influential leader like Angela Merkel or the Dalai Lama. Maybe you'd go for someone funny like Zach Galifianakis or Magda Szubanski. Chances are your choice of guest is as divisive as your justification.

Oprah Winfrey recently told Oprah.com that it wasn't until she hosted a dinner party with John Travolta and Julia Roberts in attendance that she realised she had "celebrity friends".

So who would be on your list? Join the SBS community by telling us about your ideal Australian dinner party guest in the comments section below. While we're talking about fantasies, this is not a fantasy that will bring someone back from the dead, so limit your suggestions to living people.