Write a modern new Christmas cracker joke to win £1,500

TV channel Gold is once again running its competition to find the best modern Christmas cracker jokes.

This will be the third year of the competition, with last year's topical winner being "What will be missing from Take That's Christmas stocking this year? An Orange" (2014 top 10). The competition's inaugural winner was revealed as "What does Miley Cyrus have at Christmas? Twerky." (2013 top 10).

The writer of this year's top joke will win £1,500 worth of holiday vouchers and a box of bespoke Gold Christmas crackers with their winning joke included. The nine runners-up will each receive a festive hamper of assorted food and drinks, and a box of bespoke Gold Christmas crackers, which include the top six winning jokes.

The channel says: "Britons will pull an incredible 300 million crackers on Christmas day and Gold's mission is to keep the groan count low with fresh seasonal gags.

"With the success of Gold's 'Christmas Cracker' competition over the past two years, the chance to carry on the festive cheer by once again giving cracker jokes a 21st Century makeover, is one not to be missed. Looking back at the events of 2015, there is plenty of opportunity for topical, fun and original content to be showcased by witty writers. And with entries made via Twitter, all gags must be within 140 characters - short and snappy as a cracker joke should be!"

The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. Instructions on how to submit your joke are below, with the deadline to enter being Tuesday 27th October 2015.

Entry Guidelines

1. Tweet a Christmas-themed joke via your personal Twitter account before the 28th October, including the hashtag #GoldCrackers

2. Follow the @GoldTVChannel Twitter feed (so they can notify you if you win) - but the handle does not need to be included in the joke entry.

Gold is looking for "modern festive jokes that put a comedy twist on the current news agenda or pop culture phenomenon." The jokes must be original content and suitable for a family audience. Your entry must not be more than 140 characters (and that includes the hashtag #GoldCrackers). Multiple entries are allowed.

The best jokes will be shortlisted by a comedy panel led by critic Bruce Dessau, and then put to a public vote - with the top ten winning jokes being announced in December.

For full terms and conditions visit the UKTV Website

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Bruce Dessau says: "Legend has it that Napoleon once said we are a nation of shopkeepers, but if he was alive today, I think he would definitely say we are a nation of jokers - it really does feel as if everyone is a comedian! My Twitter feed is always being swamped with quick-fire gags to brighten my day. I'm looking forward to seeing what zingers people come up with this year for Gold's latest Christmas Crackers competition. From politics to showbiz there is certainly no shortage of inspiration out there. So keep it funny, keep it snappy and please keep it clean!"

Steve North, General Manager of Gold, adds: "Last year's jokes were certainly crackers, and we're looking forward to seeing what festive puns are entered this year. Looking back at the headlines of 2015, there are already plenty of big moments or funny fails that could lend themselves perfectly to the Christmas cracker joke treatment."