He's Pulled One Cracker Too Many...

My cartoon titled “This Christmas He’s Pulled One Cracker Too Many” shows a couple in a counselling session at RELATE, the well-known UK relationship support charity. 

A Christmas tree stands in the background to set the seasonal scene, while the caption delivers the joke – a witty comment on the husband’s festive overindulgence. 

By turning a playful holiday tradition like pulling Christmas crackers into a metaphor for relationship strain, the cartoon captures the pressures and humour of family life at Christmas.

The humour works because it blends the light-hearted imagery of Christmas with the more serious context of relationship counselling. 

Readers immediately recognise the double meaning: “pulling one cracker too many” is both a literal festive mishap and a gentle nod to the way holiday excesses can sometimes cause tension at home. 

It’s this mix of festive cheer and domestic comedy that makes the cartoon relatable and funny, especially during the holiday season. This cartoon was printed in The Sun on 1st December 2001.

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On the Matter of Her Calling Me Boring...

This cartoon, which appeared in The Sun newspaper on 27th October 2000, captures a scene in a relationship counselling session, marked by the familiar RELATE sign – the well-known UK charity offering relationship support. 

A husband and wife sit across from the counsellor, setting the stage for a humorous look at how couples sometimes formalise their disagreements in the most unexpected ways. 

A man and woman sit with the counsellor, and the caption refers to “Point twelve, subsection four – on the matter of her calling me boring…”. 

The joke comes from the deadpan, bureaucratic way the husband frames his grievance, turning an emotional issue into something that sounds like it belongs in a legal contract or rulebook.

The humour works because it exaggerates how couples sometimes formalise or over-complicate their arguments. 

By borrowing the dry, officious language of officialdom and placing it in the context of a personal relationship, the cartoon creates a sharp and funny contrast. 

It’s a playful reminder of how easily everyday disagreements can be blown out of proportion, and how ridiculous they can sound when stripped of warmth and spontaneity.

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The Hidden Bottle Opener

The main feature of this post is my cartoon titled “Bottle Opener”, which was originally published in The Sun newspaper on 17th April 2002. 

Set in the familiar backdrop of a Marriage Guidance office, the scene shows a couple in the midst of a counselling session. The wife makes a wry confession – she has been hiding her husband’s bottle opener. 

It’s a simple but clever gag that instantly connects with readers, especially as it plays on everyday domestic habits and marital frustrations.

The humour works because it captures the kind of petty but recognisable tension that can crop up in relationships. 

Instead of focusing on major issues, the cartoon draws its laugh from the trivial yet telling detail of a missing bottle opener – a symbol of the husband’s fondness for drink, and the wife’s way of making her point. 

Like many of my cartoons, it uses a familiar setting and a quick twist to deliver an instant smile, highlighting the ups and downs of everyday married life.

The Sun - April 17th 2002

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Simple Home Cooking

My cartoon titled “You Can’t Beat Simple Home Cooking” shows a domestic scene with a humorous twist. 

A man is stretched out on the sofa, enjoying a moment of leisure, while his partner is in the kitchen preparing a meal. 

She’s surrounded by ingredients, pots, pans and utensils, clearly putting in a lot of effort. 

The contrast between the man’s relaxed comfort and the bustle in the kitchen sets up the gag – what’s presented as “simple” home cooking is anything but simple for the one doing all the work. 

The cartoon was printed in The Sun newspaper on 21st October, 2000.

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The humour works because it plays on everyday situations many people recognise. 

We often talk about “simple cooking” as if it’s effortless, but anyone who’s spent time in the kitchen knows how much energy and organisation it takes. 

By exaggerating the imbalance between the man’s ease and the woman’s effort, the cartoon highlights domestic roles with a knowing wink. 

It’s funny because it’s true, and that shared recognition is what makes the joke land.

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If this cartoon hit the spot, why not continue with “Simple Home Cooking” or “Bed Notch Gag”? Both capture life’s everyday funnies.