Someone somewhere is surely writing a book on the north-south divide in comedy. And if they aren't maybe I should. It does seem that the north of England dominates when it comes to chatty, mainstream observational humour. Maybe it comes from a long tradition of gossiping over garden fences while snooty southerners keep themselves to themselves. Maybe northerners have to nurture more of a sense of humour because they are the ones that seem to get hit hardest whenever there is a recession.