NEWS COPY
Liverpudlians have the best sense of humour, according to Brits.
The birthplace of John Bishop, Sir Ken Dodd and Kenny Everett took the top spot in a poll of 2,000 adults to reveal the comedy capitals of the UK.
London, which has given us the likes of Rob Beckett, Jo Brand and Michael McIntyre, came second.
But the north of England and beyond largely dominated the top five with Newcastle, Manchester and Glasgow in third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Commissioned to celebrate Red Nose Day (Friday March 19), the poll found the typical adult laughs nine times a day - and makes others giggle on six occasions.
Sir Lenny Henry, Comic Relief co-founder, said: “We all need cheering up, so this year Red Nose Day will be a bit different.
“Of course we want to raise as much money as possible for people who really need it in the UK and around the world.
“But we also want to make you smile and bring you some laughter over the coming weeks.”
Sir Lenny’s birthplace, Birmingham, came sixth in the top 20 and was also the highest finishing city of the Midlands.
Seventh place was secured by Leeds, which has given us the likes of Julian Barratt and Vic Reeves.
While eighth spot went to Edinburgh, home to the Fringe which has launched the careers of many of the biggest comedians in the UK.
The top 10 - which respondents voted for from a list of the biggest cities in the UK - was rounded off by Belfast and Cardiff, finishing 9th and 10th respectively.
The study also found sarcasm is the nation’s favourite form of humour (26 per cent) – despite perhaps unfairly often being referred to as the lowest form of wit.
Observational comedy (23 per cent) as used by Peter Kay and clever one liners (23 per cent) commonly utilised by Jimmy Carr also tickle Brits.
More than eight in 10 (85 per cent) adults consider themselves to have a good sense of humour, rating themselves a three out of five on average when it comes to how funny they are.
But more than one in 10 claim to be the funniest person they know and 48 per cent reckon they are funnier than their partner.
The Comic Relief study carried out through OnePoll also found 83 per cent agree ‘laughter is the best medicine'.
While 76 per cent revealed humour has been especially important to them during lockdown.
Red Nose Day has launched its 'Share a Smile' campaign which is encouraging people to put their favourite joke in their window - to download the poster click here [http://www.comicrelief.com/
TOP 20 CITIES WITH THE BEST SENSE OF HUMOUR
1. Liverpool
2. London
3. Newcastle
4. Manchester
5. Glasgow
6. Birmingham
7. Leeds
8. Edinburgh
9. Belfast
10. Cardiff
11. Sheffield
12. Brighton and Hove
13. Bristol
14. York
15. Aberdeen
16. Swansea
17. Wolverhampton
18. Oxford
19. Plymouth
20. Leicester
ENDS
