Student Adam Ernest Pickard Crowned UK Pun Champion with Henry VIII Gag

Adam Ernest Pickard, a Master's student, has been crowned the UK Pun Champion 2026 at the Leicester Comedy Festival. He triumphed over seven other comedians in a lively competition held at De Montfort Hall, showcasing his wit with a series of memorable puns.

Key Takeaways

• Adam Ernest Pickard, a 22-year-old Master's student, won the UK Pun Championship 2026.

• The competition took place at De Montfort Hall as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival.

• Pickard's winning puns included jokes about Henry VIII, takeaway pizza, and herbal dumbbells.

• The event was hosted by comedian Jason Byrne and featured contestants in a boxing ring format.

A Punny Victory

Pickard, who is pursuing a Master's degree in scriptwriting in Norwich, described the win as "overwhelming" and "exciting." He noted that the UK Pun Championships was the biggest gig of his career to date. The competition, hosted by Jason Byrne, saw comedians deliver jokes in a boxing ring format, with audience reactions determining progression.

Memorable Puns

Among the jokes that secured Pickard the championship title were:

• The song Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII. I'd play some of it here, but it's not royalty-free.

• "I've compiled everyone who works at my local takeaway pizza place into a book. It's my Domino's Who's Who."

• "Only women can use the herbal dumbbells. Thyme weights for no man."

• "My friend and I paid a wizard to cast a spell so that Giorgio Armani would live forever. So when he died, we went back to the wizard and said, 'We'd like Armani back.'"

A Stepping Stone for Aspiring Comedians

Pickard, who has always enjoyed wordplay and cites Tim Vine as an inspiration, sees this victory as a potential stepping stone into the comedy world. He visited Leicester for the first time for the event and praised the city for hosting a vibrant comedy festival.

The Leicester Comedy Festival, now in its 33rd year, features 700 shows across 76 venues and includes both established and emerging comedic talent. Michael Harris-Wakelam, CEO of the Big Difference Company, the charity behind the festival, commended the outstanding skill displayed and celebrated the art of wordplay.

The Competition

Pickard faced tough competition, ultimately defeating Louie Falls in the final round to claim the Championship Belt. Other finalists included Katie Pritchard, Mary Cross, Nayim Ali, Paggy Gacheva, Richard Stott, and Richard Woolford.

Sources

• Student crowned UK pun champion with King Henry VIII gag, BBC.

• Adam Ernest Pickard wins UK Pun Championship 2026, British Comedy Guide.