Audiences prefer observations

Audiences prefer observational comedy to quickfire gags.

Researchers found that people find stories they can relate to funnier than deliberately constructed gags.

But, even then, a single story should not be longer than three minutes.

The study, commissioned by City Life Comedian of the Year sponsors Boddington's, also found that women in comedy clubs laugh at a joke for an average 15 seconds longer than men, a new study has found.

But this only happens when they are in a group, Single females are 60 per cent less likely to laugh than men on their own.

Both men and women laugh more when in single-sex groups. Predictably, sexist jokes only work with all-male groups,

Audiences were also asked to name their favourite comics. Morecambe and Wise topped the list, with Steve Coogan, Billy Connolly and Victoria Wood also faring well.

Published: 19 Oct 2001