Merseyside is officially the mecca of comedy, boasting the most comedians per 1 million people. As the nation’s nicest people, Liverpudlians sure know how to laugh, making it the funniest region in the UK.
Dark Horse did a study on which regions around the UK have the highest density of comedians by their birthplace, using a dataset of 541 comedians born in the UK after 1900, using lists from IMDb and Wikipedia.
As a result, Merseyside is officially the funniest region in the UK, boasting 19.6 comedians per 1 million residents. The region is known for its strong comedic heritage, having produced comedians such as John Bishop, Kenny Everett, and Alexei Sayle. Our local culture is already abundant with banter and quick wit, commonly reflected in everyday conversation and not just in stand-up performances.
Merseyside has a population of just over one and a half million people, yet it is home to 31 comedians from the list of over 500.
London is understandably second on the list, trailing not far behind with 19.2 comedians, with a total of 172 comedians from the list. As it’s home to legends like Ricky Gervais, Romesh Ranganathan, Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, it is no wonder why.
Greater Manchester took third place, with 37 comedians born right on our doorstep, including Peter Kay, Steve Coogan, and Jason Manford.
Funniest regions in the UK
- Merseyside – 19.6
- London – 19.2
- Greater Manchester – 12.6
- West of England – 11.3
- East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire – 9.5
- Gloucestershire & Wiltshire – 9.2
- Surrey, East & West Sussex – 8.4
- West Midlands – 8.1
- Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire – 7.7
- North Yorkshire – 7.2
“Comedy is more than just entertainment; it’s culture, identity, and one of Britain’s best coping mechanisms,” said Libby Mayfield, Head of Marketing at Dark Horse. “We wanted to celebrate the regions bringing laughter into everyday life, whether it’s in pubs, clubs, or living rooms.”