
U&DAVE'S JOKE OF THE FRINGE 2024
10 FUNNIEST GAGS OF THE 2024 EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL REVEALED
Comedian Mark Simmons wins U&Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe' Award with: I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it'
A shortlist of jokes were chosen by a panel of UK comedy critics from shows at this year's Fringe and anonymously voted for by the British public
Other jokes in the Top 15 include one-liners from the likes of Olaf Falafel, Arthur Smith and Chelsea Birkby
Themes such as AI, British etiquette and the Olympics also feature in the winning list
With the launch of U&Dave last month, the Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award has also seen its very first updated trophy since its creation
U&Dave, UKTV's BAFTA-winning entertainment channel, has announced the winner of its fifteenth U&Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award.
Comedian Mark Simmons was voted the winner with his witty pun: I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it. . The joke, taken from his PHB's Free Fringe show at Liquid Room Annexe, topped the list of funniest of the Fringe with 40% of Brits surveyed voting it the most hilarious rib-tickler.
To seek out the best one-liners and wisecracks for the greatly anticipated Joke of the Fringe Award, U&Dave recruited an expert panel of acclaimed judges, including some of the leading comedy critics in the UK and fellow comedians.
I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it. These panellists attended hundreds of shows across the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, listening out for those jokes which tickled them the most, then submitted their ten favourites. This shortlist was then submitted anonymously - without the name of the comic involved - to a public vote of 2,000 Brits, after which the funniest was revealed.
When asked to select a top three, U&Dave's Top 10 Funniest Jokes of the Fringe Festival 2024 revealed:
I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it. - Mark Simmons
Ive been taking salsa lessons for months, but I just dont feel like Im progressing. Its just one step forward... two steps back. - Alec Snook
Ate horse at a restaurant once - wasn't great. Starter was all right but the mane was dreadful. - Alex Kitson
I sailed through my driving test. That's why I failed it. - Arthur Smith
I love the Olympics. My friend and I invented a new type of relay baton: well, he came up with the idea, I ran with it.- Mark Simmons
My dad used to say to me Pints, gallons, litres - which, I think, speaks volumes - Olaf Falafel
British etiquette is confusing. Why is it highbrow to look at boobs in an art gallery but lowbrow when I get them out in Spoons? - Chelsea Birkby
I wanted to know which came first the chicken or the egg so I bought a chicken and then I bought an egg and I think Ive cracked it. - Masai Graham
My partner told me that she'd never seen the film Gaslight. I told her that she definitely had - Zo Coombs Marr
Having got into comedy after his friend convinced him to do an open mic night, winner - Mark Simmons - kicked off his solo Edinburgh Fringe journey back in 2014.
Since then, Mark's gags have placed 9th, 6th, and 2nd in U&Dave's Joke of the Fringe - going on to win it this year.
At the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, Mark is debuting his show More Jokes at Liquid Rooms Annexe - which runs until Saturday 24th August, and he is currently doing a 200 date tour.
Speaking about his joke claiming the top spot, Mark said: I'm really chuffed to win U&Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe. I needed some good news as I was just fired from my job marking exam papers, can't understand it, I always gave 110%.
Now in its fifteenth year, the Joke of the Fringe Award has seen its very first updated trophy following the launch of UKTV's brand new masterbrand U last month. Previous winners of the coveted Joke of the Fringe Award includeLorna Rose-Treen,Masai Graham, Ken Cheng, Olaf Falafel, Tim Vine, Rob Auton, Stewart Francis, Zoe Lyons and Nick Helm.
Recognising comics both established and up-and-coming, the Joke of the Fringe Award celebrates the art of joke writing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and acknowledges the talent it requires to create knee-slapping one-liners. To ensure that there is no bias towards well-known or household name' comedians during the public vote, the jokes are listed with no reference to the comedian that wrote and performed them - meaning it is purely judged on the humour of the jokes themselves.
Cherie Hall, U&Dave Channel Director, said We are ecstatic to announce this year's winner of U&Dave's Joke of the Fringe, Mark Simmons, and his winning joke. This year's Top 15 list features a hilarious blend of jokes that are sure to keep us laughing until the next Joke of the Fringe!
It's already been an exciting year for us, with the return of World's Most Dangerous Roads and the launch of Battle in the Box, while we are looking forward to Jamali Maddix: Follow The Leader and Will & Ralf Should Know Better. With the Joke of the Fringe now in its fifteenth year, U&Dave is still committed to supporting great comedy and brilliant gags.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland's capital city.
2024 marks the fifteenth year of U&Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe. Last month UKTV launched U - its new masterbrand to unite its streaming service and its channels. Free streaming service UKTV Play has transitioned to U, with nearly 8,500 hours of content to view, and UKTV's free-to-air channels have become U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W and U&YESTERDAY.
For more information, please contact:
Alex Bu
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
10/02/2026
From San Fran to Santa Clara down to Los Angeles, ESPN celebrates the Big Game w...
10/02/2026
A team of broadcast engineers and experts dispersed across Northern Italy help broadcasters and still photographers keep shooting
OBS has put new imaging techn...
10/02/2026
If you can have the best pictures and the best sound quality for these global ev...
10/02/2026
Disney+ will add vertical video within its app this year after ESPN introduced V...
10/02/2026
GameChanger today unveiled the most comprehensive product update in its 15-year history, marking a major step forward in how families, athletes, coaches, fans, ...
10/02/2026
With a new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights arriving just in time for Valent...
10/02/2026
Today, we announced our fourth quarter 2025 earnings, marking a strong finish to the year with exceptional user growth and continued momentum across the busines...
10/02/2026
I dag redovisar vi v rt resultat f r fj rde kvartalet 2025, vilket markerar ett starkt avslut p ret med robust anv ndartillv xt och fortsatt momentum i hela v...
10/02/2026
World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand
10 February, 2026
Media releases
SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancement...
10/02/2026
Jennifer Hanley, Vice President, International, L3Harris, signed a Memorandum of...
10/02/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
10/02/2026
NEW YORK February 10, 2026 Nielsen's Gracenote, the global leader in entertainment metadata, today announced the continuation of its partnership with Go...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
Clear dialogue has long been one of the biggest pain points in post-production. From complex mixes to unpredictable playback environments, intelligibility somet...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
10/02/2026
10 Feb 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Expands Digital Healthcare Services in Ukraine ...
10/02/2026
The new TV campaign is set to air on Sky from 10th February - 6th April inviting...
10/02/2026
Red Seat Ventures Acquires Leading Podcast Subscription Platform Supercast Los Angeles, CA, February 10, 2026 - Red Seat Ventures, a division of Fox Corporati...
10/02/2026
Arvato Systems Celebrates a Decade of Innovation and Customer Success in the Dig...
09/02/2026
A look inside the tech, tools, and team that make the Super Bowl into true eye c...
09/02/2026
Software-defined IP backbone and centralized signal-control hub redefine champio...
09/02/2026
Broadcasters continue to raise the bar when it comes to producing an eye-catchin...
09/02/2026
Game coverage will feature nearly 100 cameras, a deep well of replay channels, a...
09/02/2026
Sony's imaging tech is the literal lens through which the spectacle and exc...
09/02/2026
The technologies, including AI, allow fans at home to see the athletes, feel' the speed, and sense the skill
With four years from one Winter Games to the ...
09/02/2026
Sportradar AG announces a multi-year agreement with NBC Sports Regional Sports N...
09/02/2026
New York Festivals Advertising Awards proudly unveils a dynamic new Sports Category Group, expanding its 2026 competition to recognize the powerful role sports ...
09/02/2026
Devlin Design Group, Filmwerks, LTN pitched in on the four-day effort
The site ...
09/02/2026
Despite the game taking place right in the middle of NBC Sports' busiest month ever, its production and operations teams pulled off a massive Super Bowl LX ...
09/02/2026
SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026
9 February, 2026
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising invent...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture and custodian of the SAFTAs, is calling on all South Afri...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the call for training provider submissions is open. This funding aims to award grants ...
09/02/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and Sk...
09/02/2026
The L3Harris Key Management System is the first solution on the open market - and available to NATO customers today - that allows countries to create their own ...
09/02/2026
Book a meeting or demonstration at ISE 2026! Please enter the following details. (Tick the relevant box for a meeting or demo):
--
Meeting / Demo*
Meeting...
09/02/2026
Harvey Norman tops Australia's biggest ad spenders as finance and travel surge
Sydney February 9, 2026 - Nielsen's Biggest Ad Spenders of 2025 Report...
09/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/02/2026
Berklee Presents Great American Songbook: What About Us-A P!NK Celebration Featuring a global cast of over 100 Berklee students, the two-night production will...
09/02/2026
From Green Day using 2028s, Charlie Puth's rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner with a d:facto (as well as 4099s on many of the instruments) and Bad Bunny...