The Great British sense of humour can be a bit difficult for people to understand. Not everyone gets the hilarity of someone accidentally dropping their monocle into a cup of Earl Grey.
BBC Worldwide asked 10,000 people why they watch UK TV shows, and apparently most of them do because we’re funny. The majority of people polled in China, America, Australia and Germany switch to BBC Worldwide for a dose of the giggles.
Now, not all comedy can be easily translated. Take the humble pun, for example. I remember trying to tell the “A bear walks into a bar…” joke to my Japanese housemate, and it took over an hour. What works beautifully in one language can be hopelessly mangled in another.
As a secondary reason for watching, lots of viewers claimed the quality of TV in the UK is a plus. We’re just so swish. Those in Japan and China enjoy the detail that goes into our much-loved sitcom and drama characters.
Interestingly, it seems people from Mexico and North America tune in because they love the British accent. Every time I hear ‘British accent’, I cringe, because what the hell is that exactly? Do they yearn for impeccable Received Pronunciation, Sarah Millican’s Northern accent or the distinct ‘East end’ tone of Gina Yashere?
What all of this does mean is that female comedy is getting a lot more exposure across the globe. The Beeb’s pretty good when it comes to supporting funny women and giving them a platform. And as the poll shows, if you can make them laugh then you’re onto a winner.
