Scousers are renowned for their sense of humour and now it’s official
Liverpool has been named the funniest city in the UK by Comic Relief(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool has been crowned the funniest city in the UK. Scousers have always been renowned for their sense of humour and now it’s official as a new study from Comic Relief has determined Liverpool to be the funniest place in the country.
The research found one in three people survey said our region is the place where people like to have a laugh the most The research was commissioned by Comic Relief to mark the start of this year’s Red Nose Day campaign. The charity campaign, which launched in 1985, is designed to encourage the nation to come together and embrace its trademark humour to do some serious good, and raise vital funds to help more people eat, sleep and feel safe.
Sir Lenny Henry co-founded the first event in the 1980s and explained this year’s theme is Take Yourself Funny For Money, which couldn’t be more important in these times. He said: “I think the theme of this year’s campaign is absolutely spot on. We Brits love a bit of self-deprecation and making fun of ourselves, don’t we?
“It’s never about putting yourself down, it’s about bringing people together. Laughing at yourself invites others in, it says, you’re welcome here. After decades of doing stand-up, one thing I know for sure is that having a laugh, especially at yourself, is one of the quickest ways to feel connected to a room full of strangers.
“For me, humour is one of our nations’ greatest coping tools. It gets us through the awkward, cringey moments, as well as the really tough stuff. And there is a lot of tough stuff right now – hardship, poverty, and people struggling beyond belief just to get by day to day.
“With all the money raised this Red Nose Day to help people eat, sleep and feel safe, we can make sure fewer people suffer hunger, homelessness and harm.”
Red Nose Day takes place on March 20 this year and will be broadcast on BBC One from 7pm. The voice of Love Island Iain Stirling is also participating in this year’s event and he said how self deprecating humour is a defining feature of our culture.
He said: “I think self-deprecating humour is such a well-loved, typical British style of humour. It is a really wonderful thing, and it shows a level of self-awareness and a level of empathy that other people may lack.
“Being able to be self-deprecating about yourself opens yourself up into this world of possibility where you can understand other people’s flaws and be understanding and more caring – so it’s actually a lot more important. And also, it’s just funny to make fun of yourself.”
Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker is also one of the famous faces to throw her support behind the campaign. She said: “I’ve based my entire personality on self-deprecating humour. In life, we don’t necessarily get all things right, but I think as a nation, we’re very very good at having a sense of humour about ourselves and there’s nothing funnier than your own self, laughing at it.
“There are a host of ways to get involved and fundraise this Red Nose Day. Whether it’s wearing a silly costume on the morning commute, creating a self-portrait in bake form, sharing your best worst photo on Instagram, or buying a Nose or t-shirt – there’s a way for everyone to Take Yourself Funny for Money and become the nation’s punchline.”
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