The 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival gave us more than just wild theater performances and bizarre street acts. As always, it was the breeding ground for some of the wittiest, most unexpected jokes you’ll hear all year. The best part? No one saw them coming.
Mark Simmons Wins With His Bottle
This year’s top honor went to Mark Simmons with a joke so dry, you might want to chase it with water:
“I was going to sail around the globe in the world’s smallest ship, but I bottled it.”
It’s simple, almost too simple. But in a world where punchlines get buried under layers of irony and political undertones, this joke’s brilliance lies in its sheer absurdity. Simmons’ knack for sharp, efficient wordplay earned him the top spot—and the groans of satisfaction from pun-lovers.
The Salsa That Never Was – Alec Snook’s Step Forward (and Back)
Alec Snook gave us this little gem about his misadventures in salsa class:
“I’ve been taking salsa lessons for months, but I just don’t feel like I’m progressing. It’s just one step forward… two steps back.”
Dance, like comedy, is about timing. Snook perfectly captured the frustration of mastering a skill, with a rhythm that hit the audience right on beat.
Alex Kitson’s Mane Dish Disaster
Alex Kitson’s joke about dining on horse meat had a lot of bite:
“Ate horse at a restaurant once – wasn’t great. Starter was all right but the mane was dreadful.”
It’s like eating out—minus the satisfaction. Kitson spins a food critique into something ridiculous, ensuring that you’ll never look at your next main course the same way.
Arthur Smith’s Road to Nowhere
Arthur Smith gave us the most literal interpretation of “sailing through” a test:
“I sailed through my driving test. That’s why I failed it.”
Smith’s humor here isn’t trying to be smart. It’s blunt, cutting right to the punch. It’s not about how you tell the joke; it’s how straight-faced you can be while delivering it.
Olaf Falafel’s Perfectly Measured Joke
Olaf Falafel’s dad joke about liquid measures was as exacting as it was hilarious:
“My dad used to say to me ‘Pints, gallons, litres’ – which, I think, speaks volumes.”
Falafel’s humor thrives in the ridiculousness of common phrases we never really think twice about. It’s a joke that sneaks up on you—and once you get it, there’s no going back.
British Etiquette: A Fine Line Between Highbrow and Lowbrow
Chelsea Birkby’s take on British culture might just be the most culturally insightful joke of the year:
“British etiquette is confusing. Why is it highbrow to look at boobs in an art gallery but lowbrow when I get them out in Spoons?”
This joke is a wonderfully twisted observation of societal norms, questioning the fine line between “art” and “indecency.” It’s cheeky, literal, and just the right amount of scandalous.
A Festival That Keeps Surprising
One of the most refreshing things about the Edinburgh Fringe is how unpredictable it is. The jokes range from puns that make you roll your eyes to social commentary wrapped in absurdity. What ties them together is the ability to take everyday situations—whether it’s taking a salsa class or failing a driving test—and twist them into something completely unexpected.
In a festival that pushes the boundaries of every performance art imaginable, the jokes remain grounded in simplicity. Maybe that’s why they hit so well. They’re reminders that humor doesn’t always need to be flashy or profound. Sometimes, the best jokes are the ones you never saw coming
