British Onion derivative pretty good despite that, says area man

It has the same format, the same deadpan wit and the same audience of cubicle drones and bloggers looking for something to link to.

But the Daily Mash is still “pretty good” despite being basically a British version of the Onion, say readers invented by the online news satire as sources of quotes.

“The Onion’s references to unfamiliar fast food chains and household consumer brands has all the appeal of random Americana. But there are no quotes from made up people called Darren” said 31 year old programmer Darren Clarke, who is currently reading the Daily Mash to avoid thinking about the meeting he would have to go to this afternoon if he existed.

“Many commentators in the United States point to a shared heritage of democracy, liberty, free enterprise culture and language between our two countries” said media analyst Ray Groanslade.

 “Britain’s full of fucking idiots saying the same thing” he added.

According to Mr Groanslade, the two cultures have enough basic similarities to make an Onionesque publication work on this side of the Atlantic. “There’s the same toxic mix of corporate dominance, authoritarian government and witless media, all marinated in a deep well of comprehensive public stupidity” he said.

 Despite that, he said, there are enough differences in the way these factors apply that enable the Mash to distinguish itself from its US inspiration. “Britain has this hectoring, nagging, wheedling government and you can see Obama’s people going down the same route if things don’t work out for them and they get all sulky. Yet we’re probably soon going to have a Conservative government intent on rescuing its rich friends who got us into this mess while leaving the rest of the country neck deep in the shit – quite reminiscent of the Bush administration.”

Mr Groanslade cited a recent article on government alcohol policy to illustrate his meaning.

Emma Bishop, a marketing executive from Twickenham, added: "How's about this? As an adult, I think a reasonable daily limit is me drinking as much as I fucking want. "

"If it affects my work I'll get sacked. If it affects my relationships I'll be all lonely and sad.

"And as for my health, following a quick glance at my tax bill I've decided that the NHS will treat me and the government can keep its fucking opinions to itself."

“You wouldn’t get the NHS reference in the Onion, but it's bang fucking on for the UK” said Mr Groanslade.