It’s safe to say it’s been a very bad year for the former Prince Andrew. Already stripped of his title and privileges, he is rounding off the year by becoming the punchline of the year’s most popular Christmas cracker joke.

The annual competition is commissioned by the comedy channel U&Gold (formerly Comedy Gold) and decided by the British public. It usually produces a topical winner that sends up one of the biggest stories of the year.

This year’s winner was written by Ben Smith from Chelmsford, who pithily summed up Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s fall from royal status: “Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles!” Smith receives a top prize that includes £1,500 towards a holiday.

A second joke about the former Duke of York also made this year’s top 10 list, coming in at number four – indicating that the story has lodged firmly in the British public’s collective consciousness. That one goes: “What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They’re both out in the cold.”

This year’s list of finalists also features festive gags about the politicians Angela Rayner and Nigel Farage, as well as celebrities including Lily Allen and David Harbour (whose acrimonious divorce was the subject of Allen’s latest album), pop star Sabrina Carpenter and the Traitors host Claudia Winkleman.

In second place is a joke about Oasis, whose long-awaited reunion tour last summer became a massive pop culture moment. “Why don’t Noel and Liam want to open their presents early on Christmas morning?” the joke asks. “They need a little time to wake up.”

Comedy critic Bruce Dessau, the chair of the judging panel – which filters the jokes before they are put to a public vote – said it was “an absolutely stellar list of jokes this year – possibly one of our best ever in the 13 years U&GOLD has been running this competition”.

He added: “2025 has featured a number of newsworthy moments, and there’s a real mix of topical jokes here that poke fun at some of the year’s headlines.”

Gerald Casey, the UKTV director, said: “Another fantastic year of hilarious entries, showing that the British public are a funny as ever when it comes to the news”.

Last year’s winner was about Keir Starmer’s freebies, while the winning joke in 2023 poked fun at the British Museum.

This year’s top 10 jokes:

1. Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles.

2. Why don’t Noel and Liam want to open their presents early on Christmas morning? They need a little time to wake up.

3. Which pop star carves her own wooden nativity scene? Sabrina Carpenter.

4. What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They’re both out in the cold.

5. What is a French burglar’s favourite Christmas film? Louvre, Actually.

6. Could Lily Allen and David Harbour get back together for Christmas? Stranger Things have happened.

7. Why won’t Angela Rayner get any Christmas presents this year? Santa can’t decide which address to deliver to.

8. What is Claudia Winkleman’s favourite part of Christmas dinner? The Taters.

9. Does Celia Imrie beat her family at Christmas party games? Yes, she trumps them all.

10. Where has Santa been more than Nigel Farage? His house in Clacton.