Funniest Joke of the Fringe

Award

The Funniest Joke of the Fringe is an award presented each year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by the British television channel Dave. The award highlights the best single joke (typically a one-liner) by a standup comedian and is voted on by members of the public from a shortlist selected by a panel of comedy critics.^[1]

Background

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes place each year in August. It is the UK's largest arts festival. Each year hundreds of comedians perform across the city, making it one of the largest comedy festivals in the world.

Although the award often generates headlines and draws attention from around the world it has been broadly criticised by comedians and critics as a poor representation of comedy in the UK.^[2] Since the award's inception only two women have won, and almost every joke that is shortlisted has been a pun. In 2023 winner Lorna Rose Treen stated she had won because her pun was "like a man’s".^[3]

Previous winners

Lorna Rose Treen, 2023's winner, and her award

Records

• Masai Graham and Tim Vine are the only acts to win the award more than once, with Masai winning it three times (2016, 2021 and 2022) and Tim winning it twice (2010 and 2014).
• Adele Cliff was featured in the top 10 every Fringe from 2016 to 2021, a record five lists in a row.
• Five acts have ever had two jokes in the same year's top 10: Gary Delaney (2010), Stewart Francis (2012), Tim Vine (2012), Olaf Falafel (2022 and 2024), and Mark Simmons (2024).
• The 2021 list was compiled by Will Mars. In lieu of the sponsored list, which was not running that year, he organised the "(Some guy called) Dave Joke of the Fringe 2021". The winner was chosen by a random member of the public called Dave whom Mars found by walking up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Most Top 10 Jokes

See also

• Edinburgh Comedy Awards

References

1. "Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe 20223". UKTV.
2. Logan, Brian. "Dave's Edinburgh fringe one-liner award misses the point of comedy". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
3. "I won Fringe's funniest joke because my pun was like a man's, says first woman to win in 15 years". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
4. "Funniest Joke at Edinburgh Fringe: Simmons' ship joke triumphs". BBC. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
5. "Lorna Rose Treen's Cheetah Joke named Joked Of Edinburgh". The Independent. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
6. "Dave's Joke Of The Year revealed". UKTV. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
7. "Dave's Joke Of The Year revealed". UKTV. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
8. "Top Ten Jokes from Edinburgh 2021". The British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
9. "2020 Fringe Announcement". Edinburgh Fringe. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
10. "Dave's Joke Of The Fringe 2019". UKTV. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
11. "Dave's Joke Of The Fringe 2018". UKTV. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
12. "Edinburgh Fringe 2017 funniest jokes revealed". The Independent. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
13. "Masai Graham's organ donor gag is Edinburgh fringe's funniest joke". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
14. "The 10 Funniest Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
15. "Tim Vine wins Dave Award". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
16. "Funniest Joke Of The Fringe Announced". Edinburgh Fringe. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
17. "Edinburgh's 10 Funniest Jokes Revealed". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
18. "Top Jokes at Edinburgh Fringe 2011". The British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
19. "Top Jokes at the Edinburgh Fringe 2010". The British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
20. "Revealed: The Funniest Jokes On The Fringe". Chortle. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
21. "Fringe's Funniest Jokes Revealed". Chortle. Retrieved 23 August 2023.