A joke about a small boat by English <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music-stage/2024/08/23/sunil-mashari-comedy-dubai-edinburgh-fringe/" target="_blank">comedian</a> Mark Simmons has been chosen as this year’s funniest joke at the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music-stage/2024/08/17/mina-liccione-dubai-comedy-edinburgh-fringe/" target="_blank">Edinburgh Fringe</a> Festival. The joke goes as follows: “I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship, but I bottled it.” In this context, “bottling” means both “putting inside of a bottle” and “failing” in colloquial British speak. The joke was chosen by a panel of comedians and experts who attended various shows at the festival to pick their favourite lines. The panel selected and submitted 10 of their favourite jokes, after which a poll was held to pick the joke of the year – 2,000 people voted and the joke by Simmons won, with 40 per cent of voters selecting his punchline. Simmons has been a regular at the festival, with many of his jokes previously nominated. He began performing a decade ago, when his friend convinced him to do an open-mic night. His new show, More Jokes, is on until Saturday at Liquid Rooms Annexe, followed by a 200-date tour. Of his joke winning, Simmons said: “I'm really chuffed. I needed some good news as I was just fired from my job marking exam papers. Can't understand it, I always gave 110 per cent.” Here are some of the other jokes that made it to the top 10: Alec Snook: “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.” Alex Kitson: “Ate horse at a restaurant once – wasn't great. Starter was all right but the mane was dreadful.” Arthur Smith: “I sailed through my driving test. That's why I failed it.” Olaf Falafel: “My dad used to say to me 'Pints, gallons, litres', which, I think, speaks volumes.” Masai Graham: “I wanted to know which came first the chicken or the egg, so I bought a chicken and then I bought an egg and I think I've cracked it.” Olaf Falafel: “The conspiracy theory about the moon being made of cheese was started by the hallouminati.” Another joke by Simmons made it to the fifth spot: “I love the Olympics. My friend and I invented a new type of relay baton: Well, he came up with the idea, I ran with it.” After the funniest joke was revealed, Cherie Hall, director of U&Dave, the television channel that picked the winners, said: “This year's list features a hilarious blend of jokes that are sure to keep us laughing until the next Joke Of The Fringe. With the Joke Of The Fringe now in its 15th year, U&Dave is still committed to supporting great comedy and brilliant gags.”