- Ken Cheng wins the prize for the best joke at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- It was: ‘I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change’
- Cheng beat a host of household names including Frankie Boyle and Ed Byrne
Its awkward shape has caused a headache for anyone using old parking meters and vending machines.
But for one comic at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the new 12-sided £1 coin provided some award-winning inspiration.
Ken Cheng has scooped the prize for the funniest joke at the festival with his one-liner: ‘I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change.’
Ken Cheng, pictured, won the prize for best joke at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with ‘I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change’
The comic, a professional poker player who reached the final of the 2015 BBC New Comedy Awards, beat off close competition from household comedy names Frankie Boyle and Alexei Sayle.
Boyle came second with his joke: ‘Trump’s nothing like Hitler. There’s no way he could write a book’, while Sayle came third with his quip: ‘I’ve given up asking rhetorical questions. What’s the point?’
The award, Dave’s Funniest Joke of The Fringe, is presented by digital TV channel Dave.
Household name comedians Frankie Boyle, left, and Ed Byrne, right, also made the top 10 lists for their jokes
A panel of ten comedy critics toured venues throughout the festival listening to jokes before nominating their six favourites.
The shortlist was then put to 2,000 people who voted for the winners.
Cheng, who dropped out of studying maths at Cambridge University to play online poker professionally, said: ‘I am very proud to have won. As a tribute, I will name my firstborn son after this award and call him “Joke of the Fringe”.’
