TIS THE SEASON TO GET PUNNY!
U&GOLD LAUNCHES ITS ANNUAL SEARCH FOR THE UK’S BEST ‘CHRISTMAS CRACKER’ JOKES
- TV channel U&GOLD is inviting the nation to craft witty, topical Christmas cracker jokes inspired by the events of 2025
- Comedy critic Bruce Dessau will head the panel shortlisting the entries before the British public crown their winner next month
- The winner will receive £1,500 in experience and travel vouchers, plus a bespoke set of Christmas crackers featuring the winning jokes
- Nine runners up will also receive a festive hamper and their own set of the bespoke U&GOLD crackers
30th October 2025: The nation’s favourite comedy channel U&GOLD is once again calling on the nation, as its much-loved Christmas cracker joke competition returns for its 13th year.
The annual competition challenges the public to pen their sharpest, silliest and most topical festive jokes - inspired by the biggest news stories, celebrity headlines, and pop culture moments of the last 12 months. The initiative aims to celebrate the best of Christmas TV on U&GOLD - from Gavin & Stacey to The Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools and Horses This year's festive highlights include Apocalypse Slough: A Murder They Hope Mystery, Blackadder's Christmas Carol, Gavin and Stacey - Christmas Special 2019, and The Royle Family - Joe's Crackers.
Last year’s winning quip, crowned by public vote, took a cheeky swipe at Westminster with: “What gifts will Sir Keir get this Christmas? None, he’s had enough!”. Previous winning gags have riffed on everything from the British Museum scandal - “Did you hear about the Christmas cake on display in the British Museum? It was Stollen” – to festive political puns like “What type of peas ruin Christmas Dinner? MPs.”
Whilst political scandals, Baby Reindeer TV sensations, Oasis ticket hikes and Gareth Southgate’s famously slow subs provided plenty of laughs last year, 2025 has delivered just as much comical material. From Taylor Swift’s engagement to Jeff Bezos shutting down Venice for his wedding, Katy Perry’s trip to space, Coldplay’s Kiss Cam moment, and even “skibidi” landing in the Cambridge dictionary, there’s no shortage of creative inspiration for this year’s entries - all designed to make the nation chuckle and keep spirits high this Christmas.
The competition is open from today (30th October 2025) until 11.59pm on Monday 17th November 2025.Entries must be made by submitting original, witty and family-friendly Christmas jokes via email to goldcrackers@taylorherring.com
The winner will receive £1,500 experience and travel vouchers, a festive-themed food and drink hamper, and their joke will be immortalised in a bespoke, personalised set of crackers ready to pull on the big day.
The nine runners-up will also receive a festive Christmas hamper and a box of limited-edition U&GOLD Christmas crackers featuring the top six winning jokes.
HOW TO ENTER
Open to all UK residents aged 18 and over. To enter:
- Email an original, Christmas-themed joke to goldcrackers@taylorherring.com
- U&GOLD is looking for the most original festive jokes that put a comedy twist on the news agenda or pop culture moments across the past year
- Jokes must be original content and suitable for a family audience (e.g. no swear words or offensive content)
- The joke entry must be in short form content (i.e. not exceed 140 characters)
- Multiple entries are allowed
- Competition ends at 23:59 on 17/11/2025
For further information on the terms and conditions, please visit: https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/legal/uandgold-christmas-crackers-competition-2025
The best entries will be shortlisted by a panel led by Bruce Dessau, comedy critic and editor of comedy website Beyond The Joke.
Bruce Dessau said: “Every year, the entries never fail to make me laugh – the British public truly get funnier and funnier! The U&GOLD contest is such a brilliant way to bring everyone together and reflect on the last 12 months, finding clever and original ways to see the humour in some of the most iconic cultural moments. I can’t wait to see what people come up with for 2025!”
Gerald Casey, Director of Programming, Comedy and Entertainment, UKTV said: “The U&GOLD Christmas Cracker competition has become a real festive tradition – both for us and for comedy lovers across the country. After thirteen years, it still never disappoints! It’s a brilliant way to spread cheer, celebrate British wit and keep spirits high as we head into the holidays.”
To be in with a chance of winning in the competition’s thirteenth year, submit your entry before 10th November – and remember, the best crackers are short, snappy and guaranteed to make everyone snicker!
-ENDS-
About U&GOLD
Dedicated to celebrating the best of British comedy, U&GOLD is the nation's favourite comedy channel.
Classic British comedy series loved by all the family sit comfortably alongside new U&Original scripted comedies crafted by some of the nation's finest comedic minds, such as Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes, Blood Actually: A Murder They Hope Mystery, The Cockfields and Sandylands.
Meanwhile U&GOLD's unscripted series reunite the stars and partnerships of the nation's best-loved shows to get to the heart of what makes them so evergreen - from passion projects such as French & Saunders: Funny Women, Billy Connolly Does..., Ricky and Ralf's Very Northern Road Trip and Alison and Larry: Billericay To Barry to the retrospective likes of Blackadder: The Lost Pilot, The Royle Family: Down The Back of the Sofa, dinnerladies diaries, Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, and The Fast Show: Just A Load of Blooming Catchphrases.
U&GOLD is the perfect tonic to make you laugh whatever the time of day.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
Further information please contact:
Alex Butler:alex.butler@taylorherring.com
Ella Horncastle: ella.horncastle@taylorherring.com