That’s right, Merseyside claims the comedy crown, boasting 19.6 comedians per million people. That’s more than anywhere else in the UK.
It’s not just a statistic, it’s a way of life. Merseyside has long been a hotbed of humour, where quick wit and sharper tongues are as common as cups of tea. From the pubs of Liverpool to the stages of the West End, Scouse comedy has carved out a proud and influential legacy.
This is the region that gave us scouse humour: cheeky, irreverent, clever, and bursting with character. Whether it’s observational quips or boundary-pushing satire, Merseyside comedians have been leading the charge for decades.
Some of the big hitters include:
- John Bishop, the poster boy of Liverpudlian wit, is known for his everyman charm and razor-sharp storytelling.
- Kenny Everett, broadcasting legend and comedic pioneer, brought anarchic energy and surreal sketches to British airwaves.
- Alexei Sayle, the godfather of alternative comedy, a trailblazer whose angry, offbeat stand-up redefined what comedy could be in the 1980s.
But the humour here isn’t just confined to the stage or screen. It’s in the DNA of the people. Comedy is woven into everyday life, shaped by working-class resilience, creative spirit, and an unwavering sense of community.
Whether it’s laughter as a coping mechanism, a tool for connection, or just a good old-fashioned wind-up, Merseyside lives and breathes comedy, no wonder it sits at the top.
London’s in second place
In second place, by the slimmest of margins, is London, with 19.2 comedians per million people.
You could argue that with its sheer size, diversity, and endless opportunities, it’s no surprise that the capital has produced a staggering 172 comedians from our list. London isn’t just a city, it’s a comedy epicentre.
From East End pubs to Soho comedy clubs, laughter echoes through every postcode. The city’s patchwork of cultures and classes has given rise to a rich, unpredictable brand of humour, often sharp, always evolving, and impossible to pigeonhole.
London’s comedy scene is a melting pot:
- There’s Ricky Gervais, the master of deadpan and social discomfort, whose biting satire has made waves globally.
- And Romesh Ranganathan, whose dry wit and observational honesty have become a fixture of modern British comedy.
- Add to that household names like Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, and you get a sense of just how wide the spectrum runs.
From edgy open mic nights in basements to the Hammersmith Apollo, London is where comedians test, refine, and launch their careers. It’s a city that rewards risk, values originality, and embraces the weird, the political, and the personal.
With so many voices in one place, from working-class storytellers to Oxbridge satirists, immigrant comedians to alternative sketch acts, it’s no wonder London remains one of the comedy capitals of the world. Merseyside has heart and grit, and London has the opportunities and the hustle.
Greater Manchester rounds out the top three
You can’t keep the North down, and Greater Manchester proves it, landing in third place with 12.6 comedians per million people.
It’s the heartland of dry sarcasm, sharp social commentary, and comedy that cuts through with understated brilliance. With a rich legacy of working-class humour and an instinct for storytelling, Greater Manchester has always known how to get a laugh, often without even cracking a smile.
It’s a region that wears its humour like a badge of honour: honest, no-nonsense, and disarmingly self-aware. Whether it’s deadpan delivery or kitchen-sink realism, Mancunian comedy isn’t about flash, it’s about honesty.
And the list of icons proves it:
- Jason Manford, the lad-next-door with everyman warmth and pitch-perfect delivery
- Steve Coogan, the master of satire and creator of the legendary Alan Partridge, blending absurdity with razor-sharp wit
- Peter Kay, the man who took rich tea biscuits off the map
From the local clubs of Salford to the national stage, Manchester’s comedians have shaped the UK’s comedic voice for decades. Greater Manchester may not take the crown this time, but nothing can threaten its rich culture of comedy. The laughs are real, the legacy is strong, and the talent pipeline isn’t slowing down.
As they say up North, they don’t shout about it, they just get on with being brilliant.
Some surprises in the rankings?
Absolutely. While Merseyside and Manchester were always strong contenders, some heavy hitters fell surprisingly flat. London has the numbers, just not enough to take the top spot. But with the sheer size of the population and the opportunities the area boasts, it would have been nothing short of embarrassing to fall short of the top three.
And as for areas like North Wales, Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, they’re shocking us all with fewer than five comedians per million! It’s clear that those five make a big impact, because no one can accuse the Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish of not being funny.
Dishonourable mentions
We know you’re wondering: who landed at the bottom of the laugh league?
These areas are struggling for laughs:
Let’s just call them slow burners. Or maybe their humour’s just too subtle for the spreadsheets to capture.
Why did we even do this?
Because humour isn’t just entertainment, it’s culture, connection, and, let’s be honest, Britain’s best defence mechanism. We’re often knee-deep in the grit and grind of UK life, but every now and then, it’s worth celebrating the cities and regions making us laugh through it all.
So, whether you’re arguing over hometown bragging rights, planning a comedy night out, or just curious if your accent makes you funnier, thanks for stopping by.
Methodology
Using a source list of over 600 of the most popular British comedians born since 1900 (according to IMDB and Wikipedia), we identified where each comedian was born and assigned them to their nearest international territorial level 2 groupings. We adjusted for population by calculating the number of comedians per million people.
Regions were ranked based on their comedians-per-capita figure to level the playing field between big cities and smaller towns.
Spreadsheet warriors, rejoice, the raw data’s available here.