1,000 enter Gold's gag challenge

Almost 1,000 entries have been received in digital channel Gold’s search to update corny Christmas cracker jokes.

Wits have just over a week to submit their own gags, with the best one winning a £5,000 top prize,

Gags must be original, suitable for a family audience, and – as entries are via Twitter – come in at under 140 characters, including the hashtag #GoldCrackers.

The top six entries will also have their own personalised Christmas crackers made; while nine runners-up will each receive £150.

Gold’s competition comes after a poll revealed that seven in ten people groan rather than laugh at Christmas cracker jokes.

The best Christmas-themed jokes submitted by 23:59 next Monday, October 21, will be decided by a panel led by comedy critic Bruce Dessau.

He said: ‘There is an art to writing the perfect Christmas cracker joke. There is no room for waffling, they have to be short, sharp and get to the punchline before you get bored, just like a 140-character tweet. In fact Christmas cracker jokes and Twitter go together like turkey and roast potatoes.’

Entries so far have included:

• What is Santa's biggest workplace problem? A lack of elf respect. #GoldCrackers

• What does Santa say when the reindeer make a mistake? No no no #GoldCrackers

• I gatecrashed The Snowman's wedding party. It was a Frosty reception. #GoldCrackers

To enter, gag-writers must follow @GoldTVChannel and tweet with the hashtag. Multiple entries are allowed. For further information and the full terms and conditions, visit the Gold website

Published: 14 Oct 2013