Why do the English make fun of Wales & the Welsh in particular?

Im speaking in films and on the tele. If "wales" is mentioned the actors say "oh is it as bad as that?" or "oh no, not wales". Or Welsh being used in the derogatory.

I hear it used about every other area like Ireland & the Irish and every other place, but why the direct special distaste for the Welsh & Wales?
So what I'm getting from the responses so far is that the Welsh are the least exposed to English domination throughout history? At least lingually and probably culturally? So that distinction has earned them exaggerated negative attributes according to the English?

So what is some typical negative stereotypes of the Welsh?
I mean what *are* ....
I'll give the best answer to "Cymro bach" although I think jealousy is not the term you're looking for, its more like "Resentment" for all the reasons you described.

Yes, I'm aware that they are extremely rare. I suppose you could dig up the odd one or two in the remotest areas of Wales... But what about Patagonia? I guess they all speak Spanish there as well as Welsh.
In the 19th century a small group of Welsh people migrated to Patagonia because they were afraid that the Welsh language was dying and that they could save it if they moved far out of reach of the English.
Diolch i Graham a Chymro Bach!

Interesting contributions, thanks. Patagonia is on my list of places I have to go someday; I'd actually love it if someone refused to communicate with me in any language but Welsh (well, maybe when my grip on the language is a bit firmer)!
And it's good to hear that people can survive fine without having to speak English fluently.
I believe, Graham, that young people's interest in Welsh is slowly increasing. Although you still get people at my school who whinge about the compulsory Welsh GCSE. "What's the point?" they ask.
I'm dying to learn it, as are many of my friends here in the most anglicised part of Wales. And I'm the same age as you, Cymro.

Do more speak welsh than speak Irish Gaelic?

Are there more second language welsh speakers than second language Irish Gaelic speakers?

Do more speak Irish as a native language than speak welsh as a native language ?

And so on .
The North isn't more welsh speaking than the south . Wales is more linguistically divided by west to east. The West is more welsh speaking than the east. But there is a welsh speaker in every village in Wales.

Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire are both in the south and so is northern Swansea, Northern Pembrokeshire, Western Neath and portal bot and Powys all these places are more welsh speaking than English.
You have to be fluent in welsh to teach and primary basis yes. And yes every university in wales has an "Adran Gymraeg" where all courses are through the medium of welsh, In ireland im rold it's only irish that can be studied not other subjects through that medium. Also how come the irish on Roadsigns is italica and seems assif it is not as important as english?

Also Ireland only has one county where over half the population speak's irish on a daily basis welsh has 4 . with larger populations in all.
No no, I am so sorry if it's coming across like that!

I have great respect for the Irish and their language. I am so sorry. I am doing Celtic Language studies and am just trying to compare. I am not trying in anyway to make Welsh superior. We welsh aren't like that and i certainly don't want you to think that. I am really sorry.

Nil moran Gaeilge agam, Ta cupla focail Gaeilge agam.
(Dydw i ddim yn siarad llawer o gwyddeleg ond wi'n gallu tymed bach)

Tá brón orm,
(Mae'n ddrwg gen i )

Neamhleor atá teanga amháin
(Dyw un iaith byth yn ddigon)

Is the language you speak your first language?
Second?

Are you fluent?
Do you only speak a little?

Write something in that language.

Diolch,
Trugarez
Meur rasta
Thank You
Dydh da fatla genis? My a dhysk yn temmyn begh Kernywek ons nyns a kewsel Kernewek yn regel.

Diwrnod Dda siwt wyt ti? Rwy'n dysgu tamaid bach o Gernyweg ond dwi ddim yn siarad Cernyweg yn Rhugl.

Cymraeg yw yn iaith i ,
Welsh is My language
Haha wel puddleduck neis clywed ni a yn union mae'r statws wedi tyfu yn barod ar hwn rwyf wedi gofyn 2 cwestiwn yn y gymraeg yn unig wedi cael ymatebiad sylweddol a na doedd y cwestiynau wedi cael ei ddileu am y tro cyntaf! =)