(Well, sort of...)

There is no Dave Joke Of The Fringe competition this year – so one enterprising comedian has taken matters into his own hands.

Stand-up Will Mars has launched the (Some Guy Called) Dave Joke Of The Fringe, in which the best one-liner of the festival will be chosen by a random man in the street who just happens to have that name.

He says: ‘I'll be taking a film crew to the Royal Mile this Saturday to recruit a guy called Dave to help keep the traditional joke competition alive - and ask him to pick the best gag.

‘It's all a bit of fun designed to shine a light on the hard working comedians of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.’

Broadcaster Dave has organised the competition since 2014, and normally teams of talent-spotters pick comics’ jokes to be put to a  public vote.

However, in this version stand-ups are invited to submit their own gags.

Those submitted already include:

• The Roman emperor's wife hates playing hide and seek because wherever she goes Julius Caesar - Adele Cliff
• Marvin Gaye used to keep a sheep in my vineyard. He'd herd it through the grapevine - Leo Kerse
• I’ve never had a best friend. Even my dog wants to see how things go - Will Mars
• I thought the word 'Caesarean' began with the letter 'S' but when I looked in the dictionary, it was in the 'C' section - Masai Graham
• Jokes about Nietzsche are always a little bit niche-er Alex Farrow 

Comedians with a show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2021 have until the end of tomorrow to submit a gag via @jokesfrommars on Twitter or Instagram, preferably by DM, to be in with a chance of the 

Published: 18 Aug 2021