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49 “very British Problems” That Even The King Can Laugh About

Americans and Brits really are a pond apart. And not just physically. The two nations differ when it comes to how they use the English language, how they deploy humor (or humour) and wit, and of course, the very real problems they face, and how they tackle them. The British are known for their self-deprecating, dry and often sarcastic jokes. And they’re not afraid to call themselves “awkward.”

In the words of British journalist Rob Temple, “Britain is a maze of idiosyncrasies, loveable foibles and outright eccentricities” and he’s capitalizing on the quirks of his countrymen. Temple is the founder of the hugely successful “Very British Problems” empire. The social media accounts have a combined following of more than 5 million straight-faced fans, all down for a good old-fashioned giggle. There’s even a television show, book and merchandise to prove that the Brits really are in a league of their own when it comes to their wicked sense of humor and ability to laugh at themselves.

Our team has put together a banger list of hilarious posts from the “Very British Problems” Instagram and "So Very British" Facebook pages. Grab your afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches, and keep scrolling for a bout of laughter fit for a king. Bored Panda was also lucky enough to secure an interview with the man behind the brand, Rob Temple, who provided us with some very funny and enlightening answers to our questions.

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Only in Britain will you find level 1-5 warnings about the "goose on platform 2." If you're traveling on a day the bird's in a good mood, lucky you. He's relaxed and you can be, too. But if you spot a "Level 5" warning, be afraid. Be very afraid. Today, the goose is peeved, violent, and ready to attack, likely making your day a lot more awkward than it already is.

The goose post is just one of many hilarious problems shared on the Very British Problems IG account. The account has racked up an impressive 964k followers, and that's on top of the millions of people who follow the sister "X" and Facebook accounts.

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"Very British Problems" is the brainchild of a bloke called Rob Temple. He's a British journalist, consultant, producer, author, and all-round funny guy. Originally from Peterborough, he now lives in Cambridge "with his alarmingly expansive collection of waterproof jackets," according to the "Very British Problems" website.

Bored Panda was thrilled when Temple agreed to chat to us. He made us laugh from the get-go, with his dry sense of humor. Upon describing himself, he had to add that he likes documenting the intricacies of human behavior, particularly British human behavior, in excruciating detail, and also "loves sitting quietly, drinking tea, and eating biscuits."

Temple has penned some pretty hilarious posts for The Telegraph, including one titled Very British Problems: the small anxieties that plague our nation, from mini-breaks to office speak. His book, Britain According to Very British Problems was published in 2024.

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"Very British Problems are what make us so, well, British. And what better place to get to the heart of these problems than, urm, Britain?" wrote Temple on his site, ahead of the book's launch.

"Starting in Land's End and heading all the way up to John O'Groats, this A-Z tour of Britain covers everything from the national sports of apologising, queueing, and bog-snorkelling to our national cuisine of chips, bread rolls, and... chips in bread rolls. You'll take in sights such as Stonehenge (see the iconic prop from Spinal Tap in all its glory), Loch Ness (legend has it there is no monster) and Platform 9 ¾ (after a few hours waiting in a railway station, have your photo taken next to a brick wall) all whilst looking for somewhere decent to stop and eat your packed lunch."

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Temple tells us that he started "Very British Problems" in 2012 because he was bored one night. It very quickly went bananas, he says, gaining 100,000 followers in its first month. "Now it has over 6M followers across socials, so people seem to like it, so I keep on doing it," he added. "There’s been no real plan at all. I’m not very good at planning." And we have to laugh while being suitably impressed.

We ask if the success has taken him aback... "I’m pleasantly surprised at the success of anything I do that doesn’t end in disaster," quips Mr. Funny Guy, and again, we can't help but giggle.

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He has another book coming up called A Very British Christmas. It’s "number seven in the Very British Problems world," he says, adding that it is a survival guide to the festive season. Something that could probably come in handy for a lot of us.

"The paperback of my current book - Britain According to Very British Problems - is an A-Z of my favourite people, places and things in the UK," Temple told Bored Panda. "They’re a bit of fun and light relief in a world that takes itself too seriously. You can find them both on Amazon and Waterstones if you fancy."

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For someone who writes so eloquently and hilariously about his home country, we're curious to know what he loves and hates about Britain... He tells us the best thing is that they have "the best selection of crisps (not chips) in the world," but they also "do very good chips (and I’m not talking crisps)." We'll leave you to figure that one out on your own....

According to the author, the worst thing about being a Brit is that "car parking spaces are too small because cars are bigger than they used to be and it seems illegal in Britain to attempt to make the spaces larger." He says that "once those lines are painted on the ground, that’s the size of the space… forever."

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Temple's sharp wit, wicked sense of humor, and ability to use his words wisely make him a perfect example of what British blokes are all about. But life hasn't always been a laughing matter for this U.K. national treasure.

In 2022, Temple revealed in a column for The Telegraph that he almost died from alcoholism. He'd just marked one year sober when he shared his hard-hitting personal story. Temple also tackled mental health problems and a breakdown following the collapse of his first marriage.

Temple tells of how he drank so heavily that he ended up hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. He'd been living on a diet consisting of vodka and wine gums for a "few months," he says. The author revealed that his illness caused hallucinations.

He also talks about withdrawals, a fall down the stairs, hepatitis, and double aspiration pneumonia. It was so severe that his parents cut a holiday in Spain short to visit him. He eventually gave up drinking and changed his life.

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In his one-year sobriety post, Temple talks about a "time of wobbly orientation," and how his second wife helped save him with her unwavering support. He shares not only his optimism about the future, but also how quitting the bottle has helped his bank balance, and other aspects of his life.

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The author claims he saves the equivalent of around $9,000 a year, which is money he used to spend on drinking at home alone. He reveals that he no longer has to drive around with his own breathalyzer, and highlights the health improvements he's seen since quitting.

But the best thing about abstinence, writes Temple, is the fact that he no longer worries the people he loves. And all we can say is we are super happy he made it through everything. Because the world is a better place with Temple's 100% British sense of humor.