TGJones to giveaway 50,000 Beano comics in UK stores for FREE to celebrate the National Year of Reading
GJones has partnered with beloved children’s comic Beano to launch an exclusive issue which will be available FOR FREE in all stores between Thursday 16th and Thursday 23rd July.
The exclusive edition of Britain's longest-running comic has a ‘Summer of Sports’ theme and will feature exciting new adventures from Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher, guest appearances from famous sporting faces, as well as several vouchers for readers to enjoy in their local TGJones store.
In a special four-page story, Dennis and Gnasher's school Sports Day is transformed into a hilarious Summer of Sport spectacular, where they meet National Year of Reading Team Go All In captains including Joe Wicks, Tim Henman, Georgia Stanway and Jodie Cunningham, with legendary commentator John Murray joining the action. Packed with Beano humour and sporting mischief, the story celebrates how reading can help kids discover even more about the sports and heroes they love.
The vouchers will allow fans of the comic to get a future issue of the Beano with £1.50 off, a 40% discount on its usual price of £3.75, whilst jokesters who enjoy Beano’s humour will be able to pick up the official Beano Joke Book online for just £2.99 using the code BEANOJOKE, a 50% discount on its usual price of £5.99.
There will be a total of 50,000 issues available as part of the giveaway, available in every TGJones store.
The giveaway in partnership with Beano has been formed to support the National Year of Reading 2026, the biggest campaign in a generation designed to inspire everyone to discover a passion for reading and embed it into our everyday lives. A Department for Education initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust, the National Year of Reading is delivered with the support of major sponsors and partners, including TGJones.
Recent research from National Literacy Trust found that the daily reading habits of children and young people have risen for the first time in five years, with more than a third (36.1%) of those aged 8 to 18 stating they enjoy reading in their free time. Research from TGJones also revealed that schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 12 years old spend roughly 6.8 hours a week reading. This trumps time spent on other activities including gaming (5.5 hours a week), playing outside (6.2 hours) and even chatting with their friends (5.8 hours).
When it comes to why children want to read more, TGJones polling showed that 52% are driven by the desire to learn new things, 40% said they were inspired to pick up a book based on its cover, while 33% want to keep up with what their friends are reading.
The campaign and upcoming giveaway aims to encourage the nation to Go All In in 2026, reading into our passions and interests to get more out of the things we already love, whether it's football, gaming, music, sci-fi, or baking.
Mike Stirling, Beano Director of Mischief, said: “My job is mainly listening to kids and filling Beano every week with the stories, characters and mischief they love. Comics make reading fun and that's a superpower worth celebrating. We're thrilled to be partnering with TGJones and supporting the National Year of Reading to help introduce as many kids as we can to the joy of picking up a Beano."
Alex Willson, CEO of TGJones, said: “Reading is so important for a child’s development, and as partners of the National Year of Reading 2026 we are continuously striving to encourage more children to pick up their favourite book or comic. Our partnership with Britain’s most beloved comic is just one more way to bring bookshelves to life across the UK.”
Beano fans can get their hands on the free issue between the 16th and 23rd July by visiting their local store.
