Northern women are the funniest people in Britain, according to new research

07 August 2023 , 19:05

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Northern women are the funniest, according to a study (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Women in the North are the funniest in Britain, a study has found.

Researchers asked 2,000 Brits to reveal where their "funniest friend" lived in a bid to find the biggest rib-ticklers in Britain. Although northern blokes are among the most popular stand-up comics - like Peter Kay, James Bishop, Jason Sanford, Ross Noble and Johnny Vegas - it was women from the North who came out as the funniest.

The study found that northern lasses - like Victoria Wood, Sarah Millican, and Caroline Aherne - raised more titters than anyone else. At the opposite end of the scale, the study found that blokes from the southeast were the most lacking in humour, finding them a "dour, miserable" bunch who could barely raise a smile among pals.

English comedian Sarah Millican (Handout)

Women from the North West were top with 17%, followed by blokes from the North West, with 15%. Fellas from the North East - like Gazza - were in second spot with 14%, with 12% of women from the North East also judged the "funniest".

Asked to choose the funniest among their pals, the study by online marketplace OnBuy.com found the following;

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1 North West - Women 17%, Men 15%

2 North East - Men 14%, Women 12%

3 Yorkshire & Humber - Women 12%, Men 11%

4 South West - Women 11%, Men 11%

5 East of England - Men 11%, Women 8%

6 Scotland - Women 10%, Men 8%

7 West Midlands - Men 10 %, Women 8%,

8 Wales - Women 9%, Men 9%

9 East Midlands - Women 7%, Men 7%

10 South East - Women 6 %, Men 4%

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Pauline Taylor, 39, of Manchester, said Northerners were "always" funnier than Southerners. She said: "I've always said comedy is funnier in the north - people here can take the Mick out of themselves, and that’s the key to being funny. Southerners are too up themselves and reserved most of the time - always worried about what people with think and not being themselves." Bosses at OnBuy.com said it was clear that Northerners had "the funny gene".

Dan Warburton