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Majority of Brits say humour is needed more now while many use it as a coping tool
79% of Brits agree [1] humour is needed now more than ever in the UK
Over three quarters (77%) agree [2] that humour helps them cope during difficult times with almost half (43%) saying humour ‘helps lighten the load’ in tough times
Over two-thirds (68%) agree [3] self-deprecation is a defining part of British humour
72% agree [4] that people in Britain make fun of themselves in conversation as it is part of being British
Brits name Liverpool as UK’s funniest city with almost one in three (30%) saying Scousers have the best sense of humour
Comedians and celebrities including Iain Sterling, Jodie Whittaker and Sir Lenny Henry share their love of self-deprecating humour
Money raised this Red Nose Day will help to support people in the UK and around the world with the basic essentials that everyone has the right to – food, shelter and safety
Find out how to get involved and fundraise at: www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window)
Friday 6 February: It’s official – Brits really do love having a laugh at their own expense! New research released today for Red Nose Day shows that almost 7 in 10 Brits (68%) agree that self-deprecation is a defining part of British humour, while 72% agree that making fun of themselves in everyday conversation is simply part of being British. The findings mark the start of this year’s Red Nose Day campaign, which is encouraging the nation to come together and embrace its trademark self-mocking humour to do some serious good, and raise vital funds to help more people eat, sleep and feel safe. The Censuswide poll, of 2,001 nationally representative UK respondents aged 18 and above, shows just how deeply humour runs through British culture. Almost half (49%) describe the current UK climate as uncertain and only 1 in 9 (11%) describe it as ‘positive’. It is often said that laughter is the best medicine, and with 79% of Brits agreeing humour is needed now more than ever in the UK, now is the perfect time to ask the nation to lean into laughter. The stats speak for themselves, humour is a much needed coping mechanism, with 77% agreeing humour helps them cope during tough times, while the majority of Brits (85%) agree that laughter is good for their wellbeing. Nearly half of Brits associate their national identity with a dry sense of humour (46%) and making fun of themselves (40%), while 35% say “laughing through life’s struggles” is quintessentially British. Self-deprecating humour doesn’t just get us through awkward moments — it’s a social glue. Brits agree that making fun of themselves helps with:
Making others laugh (81%)
Breaking awkward moments (79%)
Building rapport (74%)
Building trust (65%)
Additionally, almost half (42%) of respondents who use humour to cope with difficult situations say humour ‘helps lighten the load’, and 45% of Brits say it helps reduce stress or anxiety. Across the UK, Liverpool was crowned the UK’s funniest city with almost one in three (30%) naming it as having the best sense of humour. Meanwhile, in a battle of the nation capitals, London (22%) came out on top, followed by Edinburgh (9%), Belfast (8%) and Cardiff (5%). The research commissioned ahead of Red Nose Day on Friday 20 March, highlights why the power of laughter, and how this year’s theme, ‘Take Yourself Funny For Money’, is so vital right now. Sir Lenny Henry 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.” Joining Lenny, stand-up comedian Iain Stirling and actor, Jodie Whittaker, also reflect on the joy of self‑deprecating humour and its power to bring people together for Red Nose Day. Iain Sterling 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.” Jodie Whittaker 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. Find out how to ‘Take Yourself Funny for Money’ and fundraise for Red Nose Day at www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday (opens in new window) ENDS
Footnotes:
Agree being a combined net result of ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’
Agree being a combined net result of ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’
Agree being a combined net result of ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’
Agree being a combined net result of ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Simrit Mann, PR Officer 0207 820 2500 (Press Office) media@comicrelief.com (opens in new window) www.comicrelief.com/media-centre (opens in new window) Out of hours enquiries: 0207 820 2444 NOTES TO EDITORS Methodology: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2001 Nationally Representative UK Respondents, aged 18+. The data was collected between 12.01.2026 - 14.01.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles. About Red Nose Day This Red Nose Day, Friday 20 March 2026, it’s time to take things a bit less seriously. It’s time to lighten up a little, take ourselves funny for money and celebrate the undeniable power of laughter. Whether it’s running a marathon in a mankini, baking your mate’s face in cake, sharing your best worst photo, or popping on a Red Nose and going about your day – let’s turn those silly moments into serious goodness! This March, get ready to be silly, be daft, be the nation’s punchline and help raise shedloads of cash. The money raised this Red Nose Day will help to support people with the basic essentials that everyone has the right to – food, shelter and safety. There are lots of ways to get involved and take yourself funny for money. Visit www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on social media to find out more. Red Nose Day is an initiative of Comic Relief. About Comic Relief Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty. We raise money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. We support work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world. Since launching in 1985, we have raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners. For more information on our work, visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window) or follow @comicrelief on Facebook(opens in new window), Instagram(opens in new window), LinkedIn (opens in new window)and TikTok (opens in new window)for the latest content and news. Comic Relief is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730).
