It's a cracker of a joke it's the way this Leeds lad tells'em

TJ Ball, of Parklands Primary School, in Seacroft, has come top of the pile in the Voice Box joke telling contest in Westminster.

His joke is a bit too long to repeat here and we wouldn’t want to the ruin the punch line - but let’s just say it pokes fun at the Match of the Day host.

TJ said: “This is the first time I’ve been to London. I made the security guards laugh on the way into Parliament. Hopefully, I’ll get on BBC Look North and tell my joke there.”

After winning the contest at Speaker’s House, TJ said he’d changed his mind about being a builder when he grows up. He added: “I want to be a comedian now and I’d like to take part in a world joke-telling championship.”

TJ was joined at the finals by another Leeds pupil, Abigail O’Neill. The eight-year-old from Seacroft Grange Primary School delighted the packed audience of politicians, parents and children with her toilet-humour.

Her joke was: “There were three men walking in the desert who met a genie, and the genie said, ‘Go down the slide and choose any drink you want’.”

The first man went down and chose Fanta, and he got a can of Fanta. The second man went down and chose Coke and he got a can of Coke. The third man went down and said, Weeeeeeeeeeeee’.”

Abigail, who walked away from the final with a bag full of goodies, said: “I won the class competition after my classmates decided who was the funniest in the class. I am a joker at home and I want to be a comedian when I grow up.”

Voice Box is an annual competition, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and partnered by The Communication Trust.

TJ’s winning joke:

Three baby princess potatoes were chatting one day. The first baby princess potato said: “When I get older, I will marry someone really posh…” The other two baby princess potatoes said: “Ohhh. Who are you going to marry?” The first baby potato said: “When I’m older, I will marry a King Edward.” The other two baby princess potatoes said: “Ooooooo that’s posh!” The second baby Princess Potato said: “Ooooo when I get married I am going to marry somebody really posh as well.” The other two baby princess potatoes said: “Oooooo, who are you going to marry?” The second baby Princess Potato said: “When I get older, I’m going to marry a Jersey Royal.” The other two said: “Oooo that’s posh.” The third baby Princess Potato said: “When I get older, I will marry someone really posh as well.” The other two baby princess potatoes said: “Oooooo, who are you going to marry?” The third baby Princess Potato said: “When I get older, I am going to marry Gary Lineker.” The other two baby princess potatoes said: “Urgh you can’t do that…” The third baby Princess Potato said: “Why?” The other two potatoes replied: “Because he is a common tato!” (Commentator).