Comedian Andy Gleeks, from Antrim, Northern Ireland, has been crowned the winner of the (some guy called) Dave Joke of the Fringe 2025.
His winning gag was: “I had to visit the trauma unit last weekend. He prefers the term dad.”
Gleeks takes home the title, a trophy, and a £250 cash prize.
The competition invited comedians performing at the Edinburgh Fringe to submit their best jokes. A longlist was selected by a panel of celebrated one-liner comics — Gary Delaney (Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week), Mark Simmons (Mock the Week, Dave’s Joke of the Fringe Winner 2024), and Darren Walsh (UK Pun Champion 2014, Dave’s Joke of the Fringe Winner 2015).
Founder Will Mars (Showtime at the Apollo) then took the longlist to Edinburgh’s Cowgate, where he found “some guy called Dave” — Dave Humphrys — and his family enjoying a pre-show drink at the Three Sisters Bar. Dave and his family judged the final shortlist and chose this year’s Top 10 jokes and the overall winner.
Dave said: "I absolutely love dad jokes, puns, and one-liners and this list has really given us a good giggle."Andy Gleeks’ Reaction
Andy Gleeks said: "The first thing I've had to do today is message my father to tell him about the joke I wrote about him. He never knew I wrote it and was telling it to thousands of strangers up and down the country."
Gleeks is performing his show Fragments at 12:30 pm daily in the Boston Bar (Venue 650). The Fringe brochure describes it as: “Want an uplifting show about changing your life and starting again? Or want to watch a man root around in the ruins of a life not meant for him? Or maybe you want to watch him lose everything but have very funny stories to tell? Maybe you can have it all – unlike him... At least Andy has a sense of humour about it.” Details here.
The Top 10 Jokes of the Fringe 2025
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I had to visit the trauma unit last weekend. He prefers the term dad. — Andy Gleeks
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The oldest profession is actually the DJ. They’ve been around since records began. — Kevin O'Brien
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I wrote a time travel joke but you didn’t like it. — Dave Bibby
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I’m not one to brag about the size of my willy but I've just been charged with decent exposure. — Dickie Richards
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I just had my dog chipped. Now I can play my old Playstation games on it. — Dean Coughlin
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Last night, I had a really boring dream. I slept right through it. — Jacob Nussey
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People who say bath bombs are relaxing have clearly never tried to carry one home in the rain. — Ian Smith
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My mum often comments on my weight but in her defence, in the time she’s known me I’ve put on nearly sixteen stone. — Burt Williamson
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I had a one night stand and in the morning we went to Starbucks. I had to find out his name. — Amanda Hursy
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I used to hate darts but recently I've done a real 180. — Andy Gleeks
The (some guy called) Dave competition was relaunched this year by comedian Will Mars after UKTV’s “Dave” announced they would put their long-running Joke of the Fringe competition on hold for 2025. Mars had previously run the alternative competition in 2021, during the partial post-pandemic Fringe, when UKTV also pulled out.
Will Mars said:"I had to bring the (some guy called) Dave competition back. It's important to comedians, it gives their work a little more recognition and placing on the list gives performers a lift just when they need it, when the fringe starts to get tiring and tough. It's little lifts like these that help us all get thru the fringe experience and I wanted to help continue lifting those comics up when they need it most. It's also a great chance to get some more jokes to tell you pals in the pub or at work."
