Last One Laughing is the funniest show on television because it encapsulates what Brits do best

**Warning: Contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Last One Laughing UK.**

Who would have thought that Prime Video could’ve topped the utter hilarity of Last One Laughing UK season 1? Between Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade speed dating, to Danny Dyer giving the cast acting lessons and surprise appearances from Nick Mohammed and Alison Hammond, it seemed impossible to do any better.

Enter the casting team of season 2. Affectionately dubbed the "deadpan daddies" by Roisin Conaty, this year’s cast include a true variety of comics, many of whom lasted longer than anticipated due to their deadpan nature, from Romesh Ranganathan to Diane Morgan.

Were they any good at the game by making the other comics laugh or did they manage to stay so long because they have in their locker what Brits know and love: sarcastic and deadpan humour?

Diane Morgan, for example, is beloved for her role as Liz on Motherland, a no-nonsense and unflinching mum who remains cool and under pressure after cutting off her finger. And then there's Philomena Cunk. It’s interesting to think we didn’t see much Cunk-ness on Last One Laughing (aside from her joker), but it’s Morgan’s deadpan comedic style that helped her sail through the competition until she was handed a red card.

Another deadpan great is Romesh Ranganathan, whose joker may just be the best of the series (sorry David), and it is by far down to his completely monotone delivery. It seems a shame he was handed the red card at the hands of Jimmy Carr’s head poking out of the bathroom making inane jokes.

And then we have our two finalists: Sam Campbell and David Mitchell. From the very first batch of episodes, it seemed abundantly clear that either of these two would win, simply for their slightly awkward yet hilarious way of making people laugh.

For Campbell, he was perhaps in the most unique position out of all the other comics. Not many were as familiar with Campbell and his comedy, which ultimately gave him the upper hand.

From picking up Bob Mortimer, which led to the former champ being handed a yellow card, to following around Alan Carr asking the most ridiculous yet simple questions without so much as a smirk. Credit where credit’s due, Campbell played an absolute blinder doing the one thing Brits know and do best: deadpan humour!

A study by International House Manchester found that the crux of British humour is often is subtle and dry – the kind of humour that ‘can be hard to understand but very common’.

And this kind of comedy dates back decades, just look at John Cleese’s delivery in The Ministry of Silly Walks from Monty Python.

It’s why Last One Laughing works so well for a British audience, and why David Mitchell was the perfect winner.

Known for his slightly awkward and observational style of comedy, it seemed no one stood a chance against him, and why his joker song What a Picture took people aback.

The almost three-minute song saw Mitchell perform something so absurd, no one could quite believe it. But it was managing to do it with a straight face completely emotionless and not making himself laugh, that proved him a worthy winner.

But having only deadpan style comics would make it a slightly bland watch – so the cast included high energy and giggly comics such as Alan Carr, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Amy Gledhill and Maisie Adam, who despite trying their hardest, were swiftly handed red cards.

Who would’ve thought Mel Giedroyc would last as long as she did? Whether it was her facial expressions holding in a laugh (so much so she has had to see a doctor for her jaw) or the rather hairy cookies she gave out that flabbergasted Ranganathan, Giedroyc was a dark horse that thrived in the Last One Laughing house.

And, of course, Last One Laughing UK wouldn’t be quite the same without Bob Mortimer – and it’ll be a crying shame if he doesn’t give the show a go one more time. Third time’s a charm? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he needs a stage tour simply singing songs from his laptop, a fact even funnier when you know he comes up with the songs at random.

We need more!

So, thank you Last One Laughing UK, for providing the nation with the laughter it so deeply craves.

Last One Laughing UK seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch on Prime Video now.

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