Comedian claims very common Christmas joke was ‘stolen’ from him after he wrote it in 2004

A comedian has claimed that one mega popular Christmas joke was actually 'stolen' from him after he apparently wrote it himself in 2004.

Stand-up comedian Gary Delaney took to social media last year, where he claimed that his jokes are 'stolen a lot', explaining that it's pretty 'annoying'.

However, there's one joke that Gary says is his 'most stolen by a mile' and it's a Christmas cracker you'll probably recognise.

Gary Delaney said the joke had been 'stolen' from him (BBC)

"I get stolen from a lot. I’ve seen comics do sets made up 100 percent from my jokes," he said.

"I’ve seen my jokes in joke books that got bigger advances than I did for my joke book as the actual author. I see them on Christmas cards etc.

"Nothing you can do about it, but yeah it’s annoying.

"This particular joke gets repeated more at Xmas than Slade’s 'Merry Xmas Everybody' and Noddy describes that song as his pension."

On X, Gary added: "I don’t mind people telling me jokes. I get annoyed when it’s media firms eg putting it on Christmas cards, radio, scripts etc."

So what's the joke? Gary shared a clip of the gag, which he once performed on Live at the Apollo.

It goes like this...

"I went to buy a Christmas tree," Gary says.

"The guy said, 'Are you going to put it up yourself?'

"I said, 'No, I was thinking the living room'."

People had a mixed response to Gary's comments, with some saying he 'sounded bitter'.

"I get stolen from a lot and people make a lot of money using my work without credit so I think it’s understandable really," the comedian responded.

"I expect that you think it’s reasonable that you are paid to perform your job."

Gary claimed the joke didn't exist before he wrote it (Instagram/@garydelaneycomedian)

Another person claimed they had made the joke up, adding: "There’s no reason for you to believe me here Gary, but I said this to a lad at work in the early nineties when I was having a satellite dish installed. 'No, I was going to put it on the house'.

"I get the point about people stealing it though, and making money from your jokes."

While someone else said: "How do you know it's never been used before and you are 100% original. Think you're a genius by the way. Just wondered how you know a joke is original."

Gary responded, explaining that when he first sat down to write the joke, it apparently didn't exist.

"Because I sat down and wrote it and up until that point it didn’t exist. Try and find it before then. You won’t be able to," he said.