Comedy's north-south divide revealed

A new survey has exposed a north-south divide in comedy tastes.

Northerners laugh more than those in the south, the Comic Relief report found, with Yorkshire folk laughing an average of ten times a day - five times more often than those in the Home Counties.

They also prefer to laugh with friends or family, and find funny stories, cheekiness and the way people say things the best source of humour.

But southerners are more likely to find amusement in other people's embarrassment, sarcasm and impersonations.

In TV comedy, The Royle Family and Phoenix Nights are favourites in the north, while The Office is preferred in the south.

The report also found variations in each region's favourite comics

Jo Brand is unpopular everywhere.

raeme Farrington, of pub chain Brewers Fayre which carried out the survey, said: "Loyalty to comedians such as Peter Kay and Johnny Vegas is rife in Lancashire and Manchester, as many customers can relate to the comedians' northern observational tale. But our survey revealed they are also gaining in popularity further south."

Published: 7 Mar 2003