Swedish comedian feasts on the acclaim after his food-themed quip tops list of 10 best gags from this year’s fringe

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The surrealist Swedish comedian Olaf Falafel has won the Dave funniest joke of the fringe award for 2019. He received the prize for a rib-tickler from one of two shows he has performed at this year’s Edinburgh festival: “I keep randomly shouting out ‘Broccoli’ and ‘Cauliflower’ – I think I might have Florets.”

The gag comes from Falafel’s show It’s One Giant Leek for Mankind which, suiting its fruit-and-veg theme, was performed at the Pear Tree. The comedian, who also works as an illustrator, said: “This is a fantastic honour but it’s like I’ve always said: jokes about white sugar are rare, jokes about brown sugar … Demerara.”

Edinburgh festival 2019: the 10 best jokes Read more

This is the 12th year the TV channel Dave has awarded a funniest joke of the fringe prize. A shortlist was compiled by a panel of 10 comedy critics who each submitted their favourite six jokes, without naming the comic, with the gags then put to a vote by 2,000 members of the public.

Luke Hales, Dave’s channel director, said: “What a year it’s been for current affairs and British eccentricities. The comedic opportunities to be creative are endless and above all we’ve all needed a good laugh in 2019.”

There is just one joke about Brexit in the top 10. “What’s driving Brexit?” asked Milton Jones. “From here it looks like it’s probably the Duke of Edinburgh.” Most of the jokes steer clear of current affairs and have a timeless quality. “A thesaurus is great,” observes Ross Smith, who has two gags in the top 10. “There’s no other word for it.” Adele Cliff, the sole female comic in the top 10, was recognised for her joke: “I accidentally booked myself on to an escapology course. I’m really struggling to get out of it.”

Previous winners of the award include Ken Cheng, Masai Graham, Tim Vine and Zoe Lyons.

Dave’s 10 funniest jokes of the 2019 fringe

1. I keep randomly shouting out “Broccoli” and “Cauliflower”. I think I might have Florets. – Olaf Falafel

2. Someone stole my antidepressants. Whoever they are, I hope they’re happy. – Richard Stott

3. What’s driving Brexit? From here it looks like it’s probably the Duke of Edinburgh. – Milton Jones

4. A cowboy asked me if I could help him round up 18 cows. I said, “Yes, of course. That’s 20 cows.” – Jake Lambert

5. A thesaurus is great. There’s no other word for it. – Ross Smith

6. Sleep is my favourite thing in the world. It’s the reason I get up in the morning. – Ross Smith

7. I accidentally booked myself on to an escapology course; I’m really struggling to get out of it. – Adele Cliff

8. After learning six hours of basic semaphore, I was flagging. – Richard Pulsford

9. To be or not to be a horse rider, that is Equestrian. – Mark Simmons

10. I’ve got an Eton-themed advent calendar, where all the doors are opened for me by my dad’s contacts. – Ivo Graham