The Archbishop of Canterbury on… those sickeningly offensive New Year fireworks

WAKING with a hangover that is literally headsplitting – a mixture of red, green and cerebral matter is trickling from a gash in my forehead – I apply a plaster and reflect on my New Year sermon.

I had chosen to address the timely theme of resolutions. Having already examined my own conscience and lifestyle and finding nothing that required remedying in myself, I turned my attention to my flock.

‘You people have got to pull your fucking socks up in 2026!’ I thundered from the pulpit, before proceeding to issue a list of resolutions by which they should abide.

‘First, the use of the so-called word “hollibobs”. I’ve warned you fuckers about this before but still I hear it, often followed by a chortle. This must stop.

‘Second – chortling! No more fucking chortling in 2026 to Marina Hyde, Have I Got News for You or whatever supposed satire it is. If you’re chortling, you’ve no fucking idea how deadly serious things are.

‘Three! Going on about how fucking great Nick Cave is. He’s an overrated bastard trading on past glories and we’re sick of his twatty reasons for gigging in Israel. He was better when he was a smackhead.

‘Four! Using “amount” when you mean “number”. It’s amount of flour, number of flowers, get it? Small thing but it tears my tits off whenever I hear it!

‘Okay, that’ll do, now fuck off in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.’

With a reflective smile, I take a light breakfast and peruse a periodical. Therein, I read that Mike Graham, former Talk TV host, launched an attack on London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display, complaining of its wokeness and that its ‘messaging was offensive’.

Really, Mike? Did they project lights saying ‘MIKE GRAHAM IS AN IGNORANT, REPELLENT FUCKING TWAT’ on the night sky? Or was it just a fucking fireworks display and lightshow, the same as every year? It seems the issue was an EU flag being shown among all the flags of the world – oh the horror – and the Star of David disappearing from the Israeli flag, actually a technical glitch affecting other blue and white flags. Which you might have considered, Mike, but that would have ruined your right-wing shit-stirring about antisemitism and Sadiq Khan! Go jump in a fucking river, you total cunt!

An article in the Financial Times discussed the ‘loathing’ towards Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves, which the writer of the piece and the pair’s allies find ‘striking’.

Really? Bit of a head-scratcher, you reckon? Two politicians with the collective fucking charm of a loading bay, one of them a lump of piggy-eyed, cowardly fucking mendacity who’d suggest firing asylum seekers out of a cannon into the English Channel if he thought it’d claw back half a dozen fucking votes, the other a joyless fucking foghorn who’s still sulking about not being allowed to freeze pensioners to death this winter? It’s fucking amazing they’re not more popular than Sir David Attenborough, if you ask me! ‘Striking’? You need striking upside your heads, you broadsheet fuckwits!

‘Israel approves 19 new settlements in occupied West Bank’ reads a headline on the BBC News website.

Yeah, that really fucking brings home the innocuousness of the programme, doesn’t it? No mention of Palestinians being moved from their homes to make way for immigrants from Russia and America, or the breach of international law or the hundreds killed to pave the way for this project! This isn’t Butlins announcing plans to open 19 holiday camps, you docile, de facto genocide apologists! Stop fucking euphemising everything so it fits with your Everything Is Normal, Keep Calm And Carry On worldview! 

Finally, New Years’ Eve viewers were once again treated to the musical cavalcade which is Jools’ Annual Hootenanny.

Jesus fucking cuntcake, how many fucking years is it now that New Year’s Eve has been immiserated by this stooping, obsequious, sub-Dickensian little twat? 30? 40? Are we gonna have to wait for him to die before we can enjoy New Year’s Eve at home? Fuck this ivory-tickling, endullening little runt, reducing all modes of music to a mush of faux-authentic boogie-woogie! Having to watch Jools on New Year’s Eve is like having a fucking hangover in advance!

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Your astrological week ahead for December 27th, with Psychic Bob

Aries, March 21st–April 19th

I see next door have got a new nude statue entwined in fairy lights. Wait.

Taurus, April 20th–May 20th

A rose by any other name would still smell of old lady soap.

Gemini, May 21st–June 21st

Same every year. Three days of Christmas and you’re an incestuous poteen-brewing redneck living in a house on stilts in the bayou again.

Cancer, June 22nd–July 22nd

“Oh no! I accidentally over-seasoned my affective disorder!”

Leo, July 23rd–August 22nd

Turns out if you both resolve to lie back and think of England, sex will be even worse.

Virgo, August 23rd–September 22nd

You turn the £100 Cocaine Voucher you received from Auntie Joan over and over in your hands. There seems no information about how to spend it.

Libra, September 23rd–October 22nd

“He’s not just a prick…he’s a Parkrun-on-New-Year’s-Day prick.”

Scorpio, October 23rd–November 22nd

Noah out here, regretting again he didn’t tie his whole ark story to a specific date in the year.

Sagittarius, November 22nd–December 21st

“Er, hello? No spoilers for His Majesty’s Christmas message to the nation? I taped it.”

Capricorn, December 22nd–January 19th

It’s Boxing Day Boxing Day. Time to eat Boxing Day Boxing Day leftovers and head to the Boxing Day Boxing Day sales.

Aquarius, January 20th–February 18th

It seems the right time of year to drop all the pretence and admit it: you’re easily the best star sign, Pisces. The rest of them are a bunch of twats.

Pisces, February 19th–March 20th

Sorry, that was meant to be for Pisces.