'Funniest joke in the world' is crowned – and its author can't wait to tell her mum


Comedian and Edinburgh Fringe 2023 performer, Lorna Rose Treen, has been awarded the winner of the funniest joke at this year’s festival.

The Dave Funniest Joke of the Fringe is chosen by members of the public from a shortlist drawn up by judges. Lorna Rose Treen’s quip topped the list with her pun: “I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah.”

The one-liner was ranked the annual festival’s funniest by 44 percent of those surveyed and 2,000 members of the public voted anonymously and asked to select their top three jokes from a list compiled by the experts.

Upon winning, Ms Treen said: “I am blooming chuffed to have won Dave’s best joke of the fringe! Are you kidding! I can’t wait to tell my mum!”

The comedian expressed her thrill of performing this year: “It is already such a wonderful joy to be debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, and this is a lovely thing on top. A huge thank you for awarding my stupid joke with this title!”

Lorna, originally from the West Midlands is the first female comedian to win the accolade since Zoe Lyons at the very first Fringe joke award in 2008.

The prize is in its 14th year and previous winners of the award have included, Masai Graham, Ken Cheng, Olaf Falafel and Tim Vine.

The award aims to recognise both established and up-and-coming comics.

The Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s biggest performance art festival, taking place over three weeks every year in August.

Cherie Hall, channel director of Dave, said: “It’s that time of year again – Dave’s Joke of the Fringe – and this year we are thrilled to award Lorna Rose Treen’s joke with the win.”

She added: “We’ve got an amazing mix of jokes and comedians in our Top 10 list this year, the quality of submissions will keep us laughing until next year.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.