U&Dave’s Joke of the Fringe will not be happening at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Despite regularly being one of the most talked about aspects of the annual Fringe the decision has been taken not to unearth the best gag of this year's festival.
Last year's winner was Mark Simmons (pictured) who triumphed with: “I was going to sail around the globe in the world’s smallest ship but I bottled it.” The joke, taken from his show at the Liquid Room Annexe, topped the list of funniest of the Fringe with 40% of Brits surveyed voting it the most hilarious rib-tickler.
Previous winners include Tim Vine, Darren Walsh, Nick Helm, Rob Auton, Adam Rowe, Stewart Francis, Ken Cheng, Dan Antopolski, Olaf Falafal, Masai Graham and Zoe Lyons.
The following comments have been issued by broadcaster UKTV:
"U&Dave’s Joke of the Fringe was originally created to celebrate and spotlight grassroots comedy talent, and as our commissioning focus evolves, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on how we continue to support comedy in the best way possible. While we’re resting the award this year, we remain committed to championing great comedy across U&Dave and beyond, and we’ll always look for ways to bring laughter to audiences in exciting ways.
Since 2008, U&Dave’s Joke of the Fringe has become a much-loved tradition, celebrating the best in grassroots comedy and spotlighting the sharpest wits at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.. We’re incredibly proud of its legacy and the laughter it has inspired, and we will we continue to champion comedy across U&Dave, U and beyond.
While U&Dave’s Joke of the Fringe is resting this year, we’re always looking for ways to bring laughter to audiences and provide a stage for the next generation of great comedy stars. Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza is a perfect example — this stand-up showcase celebrates disabled comedians, featuring a fantastic mix of rising stars and established performers, providing a platform for diverse voices in comedy.”
Picture of Mark Simmons by Steve Ullathorne
