There is nothing quite like having a good laugh to get you through some tough times.
And, as the UK enters its second month under lockdown, family members are finding ways to cheer one another up more and more.
It is with this in mind that The Beano, the world’s longest-running weekly comic, has launched a search to find the nation’s funniest family.
Dennis The Menace and Gnasher are calling on comedic clans to get creative and share their funniest songs, jokes, pranks and silly faces to be in with a chance of being crowned “Britain’s funniest family” by a national vote.
The winning group will be turned into characters in the iconic comic, which is now in its 82nd year.
Head judge is comedian Romesh Ranganathan, a former maths teacher and father-of-three, who is supporting the initiative alongside YoungMinds, the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity.
A team of Beano gag writers led by Mr Ranganatan will select a shortlist, before asking the British public to vote online for the final winner.
“I know families can be hilarious so being asked to be head judge to help Beano find Britain’s funniest family is a dream job,” said the comedian.
“At the moment I think we could all do with a smile and I can’t wait to watch all the dances, faces, jokes and pranks that UK families come up with.”
The winning family will be brought to life in a one-off strip in the comic as well as receiving a trophy, a year’s Beano subscription, and a Nintendo Switch.
Editorial director of the Beano, Mike Stirling, said: “At the Beano we’ve been making kids big and small giggle for 80 years and the comic has always been there during difficult times to help raise a smile when needed.
“As families stay home together we know there’s comedy gold happening from dad jokes and pranks, to funny faces and dances, and we want to find and crown the funniest family out there.”
The initiative was developed in partnership with YoungMinds to encourage families to spend time doing positive activities to help reassure children and reduce their anxiety.
The Beano was first published in July 1938 and continued production throughout the Second World War to keep the nation grinning.
To continue to help families avoid boredom and raise smiles Beano is also offering a special comic subscription offer to every family who enters.
Short videos of 15 seconds can be entered in four categories: funniest family joke, funniest family prank, funniest family face, and funniest family song and dance.
From today until May 24, families can enter the competition by submitting their homemade funny videos here.
