20 August 2012 Last updated at 19:06 ET

Stewart Francis's Posh and Becks joke Fringe 'funniest'

 

Stewart Francis delivers his award-winning joke on Posh and Becks

Comedian Stewart Francis has won an award for the funniest joke of the Edinburgh Fringe.

The deadpan Canadian funnyman was given the prize by digital TV channel Dave, whose panel put a selection of their favourites to a public vote.

He won for the joke: "You know who really gives kids a bad name? Posh and Becks."

The British King of the one-liner, Tim Vine, took the runner-up spot for the second year in a row.

Vine, who won the award two years ago, appears twice in the list of 10 jokes compiled by the TV channel, as does Francis.

The top jokes were:

• 1. Stewart Francis - "You know who really gives kids a bad name? Posh and Becks."

• 2. Tim Vine - "Last night me and my girlfriend watched three DVDs back to back. Luckily I was the one facing the telly. "

• 3. Will Marsh - "I was raised as an only child, which really annoyed my sister."

• 4. Rob Beckett - "You know you're working class when your TV is bigger than your book case."

• 5. Chris Turner - "I'm good friends with 25 letters of the alphabet… I don't know Y."

• 6. Tim Vine - "I took part in the sun tanning Olympics - I just got Bronze."

• 7. George Ryegold - "Pornography is often frowned upon, but that's only because I'm concentrating."

• 8. Stewart Francis - "I saw a documentary on how ships are kept together. Riveting!"

• 9. Lou Sanders - "I waited an hour for my starter so I complained: 'It's not rocket salad."

• 10. Nish Kumar - "My mum's so pessimistic, that if there was an Olympics for pessimism… she wouldn't fancy her chances."

The winning joke was taken from Stewart Francis's current Edinburgh show, Return of the Lumberjacks.

David and Victoria Beckham have children called Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven

The show, at The Assembly Rooms, is a reunion for Francis and other Canadian comics, Craig Campbell and Glenn Wool.

Francis, who made his Edinburgh debut 15 years ago, has made appearances on British TV shows such as Mock the Week and Live at The Apollo.

Although born in Canada, both of Stewart's parents are British and he lives in the UK full-time with his Scottish wife.

Of his win, Stewart said: "1969 West Mall Soccer Association's Most Valuable Player, and now this."

The 10 Dave judges sat through an average of 60 comedy shows.

The panel was made up of comedy critics such as Dominic Maxwell of The Times, Mark Monahan of the Daily Telegraph and Bruce Dessau of the Evening Standard.

They shortlisted 30 jokes which were then put to a public vote.