The Edinburgh Fringe's humorous ship-related gag was declared as the most amusing joke
Every year, thousands of entertainers flock to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, for the Fringe festival, aiming to amuse and captivate the audience.
For the past 15 years, British entertainment channel U&Dave, owned by UKTV, has presented the "Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award." This information was shared in a UKTV press release on Monday.
Despite the stiff competition, comedian Mark Simmons emerged victorious with his joke, "I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it."
A judging panel comprising renowned UK comedy critics and comedians themselves attended numerous shows throughout the festival and narrowed down their top 10 gags. Anonymized versions of these jokes were then presented to 2,000 members of the British public to select the funniest one.
In a press release, Simmons expressed his delight, saying, "I'm really thrilled to win U&Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe. I could use some good news, I was just let go from my job grading exams—I always gave 110%."
Simmons began his comedy career after convincing his friend to take him to an open-mic night. Since then, he has been performing solo at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2014, according to the press release. This is his first time winning the top comedy prize, with his winning joke originating from his PHB’s Free Fringe show at Liquid Room Annexe.
Alec Snook's joke, "I’ve been taking salsa lessons for months, but I just don’t feel like I’m progressing. It’s just one step forward... two steps back," came in second place.
Annually held in Scotland's capital, the Fringe is the world's largest arts festival.
Top 10 comedic one-liners:
1. “I was going to sail around the globe in the world’s smallest ship but I bottled it.” Mark Simmons
2. “I’ve been taking salsa lessons for months, but I just don’t feel like I’m progressing. It’s just one step forward... two steps back.” Alec Snook
3. “Ate horse at a restaurant once - wasn’t great. Starter was all right but the mane was dreadful.” Alex Kitson
4. “I sailed through my driving test. That’s why I failed it.” Arthur Smith
5. “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
6. “My dad used to say to me ‘Pints, gallons, liters’ – which, I think, speaks volumes.” Olaf Falafel
7. “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
8. “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 I’ve cracked it.” Masai Graham
9. “My partner told me that she’d never seen the film Gaslight. I told her that she definitely had.” Zoë Coombs Marr
10. “The conspiracy theory about the moon being made of cheese was started by the hallouminati.” Olaf Falafel
The winning joke by Mark Simmons, "I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it," was celebrated globally, garnering attention not just in the UK. The Fringe festival, where Simmons has been performing since 2014, attracts entertainers from all over the world, including Edinburgh's capital in Scotland, which is annually acknowledged as the world's largest arts festival.
