Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Edinburgh Fringe: Masai Graham wins ‘Funniest Joke’ prize for second time

Comedian received the gong for a second time, having previously won in 2016

Jacob Stolworthy
Sunday 21 August 2022 15:57 BST
Comments
Comedians at Edinburgh Fringe festival predict what Boris Johnson's next job will be

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The funniest joke at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival has been awarded.

Comedian Masai Graham won Dave’s Funniest Joke of The Fringe for the second time, having previously been named the victor in 2016.

The winner was chosen by an expert panel who submitted their six favourites anonymously to 2,000 comedy fans in the UK. Each joke was also listed without the name of the comedian.

Taken from Graham’s show Aaaaaaaaaargh! It’s 101 Clean Jokes in 30 minutes at Dropkick Murphys, the winning joke, with 52 per cent of the vote, was: “I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get Pasta.”

Dave’s 10 best jokes at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022 are as follows:

1. I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get Pasta – Masai Graham, 52 per cent

2. Did you know, if you get pregnant in the Amazon, it’s next day delivery – Mark Simmons, 37 per cent

3. My attempts to combine nitrous oxide and Oxo cubes made me a laughing stock – Olaf Falafel – 36 per cent

4. By my age, my parents had a house and a family, and to be fair to me, so do I, but it is the same house and it is the same family – Hannah Fairweather, 35 per cent

5. I hate funerals – I’m not a mourning person – Will Mars, 34 per cent

Masai Graham won funniest joke at Fringe festival for second time running
Masai Graham won funniest joke at Fringe festival for second time running (Lesley Martin)

6. I spent the whole morning building a time machine, so that’s four hours of my life that I’m definitely getting back – Olaf Falafel, 33 per cent

7. I sent a food parcel to my first wife. FedEx – Richard Pulsford, 29 per cent

8. I used to live hand to mouth. Do you know what changed my life? Cutlery – Tim Vine, 28 per cent

9. Don’t knock threesomes. Having a threesome is like hiring an intern to do all the jobs you hate – Sophie Duker, 27 per cent

10. I can’t even be bothered to be apathetic these days – Will Duggan, 25 per cent

Graham, who hails from West Bromwich, last won in 2016 with the joke: “My dad suggested I register for a donor card, he’s a man after my own heart.”

Find The Independent‘s comedy critic Isobel Lewis’s personal favourite jokes of this year’s Fringe Festival here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in