Spend Blue Monday with the Queen!

This Monday is the most depressing day of the year - and that's a fact!

Statisticians, scientists and a whole host of other people who did really well at school have all clubbed together and declared this Monday the most depressing day of the year.

The reasons range from it being so long since Christmas, it being dark outside all the way from when you get up to when you leave work, everyone being broke, it's cold, wet, no-one's stuck to any of their New Year's resolutions and even writing this is depressing me.

The phrase Blue Monday was first coined by a tutor who was working part-time for the Centre for Lifelong Learning, a further education institute in Cardiff University. It was picked up on by journalists and has now become an event itself.

The conclusion - that the last Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year - falls around some pretty flimsy arguments, but don't let this stand in your way. The truth is that January is the Monday of months, and the last one in the month is probably the furthest you'll ever be from being paid if you work at a pay monthly job and these two facts alone make it depressing.

When this is combined with the weather, the long nights and, this year, the financial crisis, the outlook is bleak to say the least.

The truth is that the real problem with Blue Monday is that there are so many problems with it, which makes it hard to see something that will do the job of cheering you up.

Normally we'd recommend a walk in the park or a trip to the woods, but given the state of the weather that would seem like an invitation to get ill. Alternatively, we might suggest that you treat yourself to something you love but given the state of the economy life's little luxuries aren't always a good solution. It really seems like the only option is to wrap a blanket around yourself and stick on a good DVD - so long the idea of hiding away doesn't depress you!

So this year, why not brighten up the day with a call from the Queen of Bingo!

The plan is simple: The Queen of Bingo will be donning her Royal Robes and calling members of Jackpotjoy to give them a cash prize. And if they answer the phone with the site's catchphrase of 'Oi Oi Oi' they'll win a bonus to boot.

Alongside taking to the phones, the site are running a campaign on their popular Facebook page that will see them giveaway cash and prizes during the day, as well as posting regular updates from the Queen herself!

The idea was dreamed up by site executives who were charged with thinking of a way to brighten up Blue Monday for their players.

"We wanted something that would be entertaining, and this is a going to be an absolute ball!" explains Jackpotjoy Managing Director Michael Saunders. "The Queen will be visiting our London offices for the day and getting into character before she gets stuck into the phones with the sole intention of bringing miles and miles of smiles to our fantastic members!"

Having the Queen of Bingo pay an impromptu call to the site's members isn't a new idea, as their new campaign has shown. In the popular TV adverts the Queen, alongside her loyal servants Jack and Joy, visits houses across the country to deliver the oversized cheques the company so loves to hand out.

"We're a gaming website," Michael Saunders explains, "but we're primarily about entertainment. We're about the thrill of winning of course, but we're also about the pleasure that comes from playing games together.

"Our online bingo chat rooms are among the busiest anywhere and our members are outspoken, friendly and so much fun. Our great selection of slots, bingo and casino games like roulette make the website an entertaining adventure. We know a lot of players come onsite simply to watch the chat scroll through, or to take part in a game with some friends. It's this community spirit that we're hoping will help everyone out on Blue Monday - and with the Queen of Bingo at the helm, I've got no doubt it'll be a hit!"

The site is currently taking registrations for Blue Monday.