Christian Comedian Wins Best Joke Accolade

Christian comedian Tim Vine has won the Loaded ‘Lafta’ award for best joke.

The 44-year-old funny man from Surrey scooped the prize for his gag - “Conjunctivitis.com – that’s a site for sore eyes.”

And Mr Vine, younger brother of Radio 2 presenter Jeremy, who is known for his one-liners, managed to beat entries from fellow comedians Jimmy Carr, and Sarah Millican, as well as TV magician Paul Daniels.

The Lafta awards also saw prizes handed to, amongst others, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer for best double act; Jon Richardson was named ‘Funniest Man’; Funniest woman was Andi Osho; and DJ Danny Wallace won the award for funniest Radio show. But the coveted best joke gong went to pun master Vine, who was already well known for his one liners.

In 2010 he won the award for the best joke at the Edinburgh Fringe, with: “I’ve just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I’ll tell you what, never again.”

And in 2004 he became a Guinness World Record Holder for most jokes told in an hour, managing a whopping 499 gags to gain the accolade.

Vine, who has played to packed houses around the world, used to be a firm favourite at Spring Harvest, but although he is a committed Christian, he doesn’t bother describing himself as a Christian comedian, he told one interviewer: "Being a Christian is a major part of my life, but at the same time I don't bill myself as, 'I'm a Christian comedian'.

"I'm a comedian who happens to be a Christian. But the fact there's no swearing in my act… I don't actually sit down and think, 'OK, I must make sure there's no swearing in my act – because I am a Christian!'

“In silly comedy, there's no room for swearing – if you're being stupid and childish – it wouldn't fit my act, anyway. If I'm saying something like, 'Black Beauty, he's a dark horse', where's the room for the swearing in that?"

Tim Vine was brought up, along with brother Jeremy by Christian parents, together the brothers formed a punk band called 'The Flared Generation' which was dedicated to bringing back Flares.