Joker Jack wins national joke competition

Jack Johnson, 7, travelled to Westminster today to take part in the grand final of a national joke-telling competition and won!

Voice Box, a joint initiative by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and The Communication Trust, is a joke competition designed to raise awareness of the importance of communication.

Jack, who attends Swanwick Primary School, delighted the judging panel with his winning joke: “There was a mummy balloon, daddy balloon and a baby balloon. They all slept in the same bed. Then daddy balloon said, “You’ll have to sleep in your own bed now, you’re too big”. Baby balloon didn’t want to sleep in his own bed so in the middle of the night, he went into mummy and daddy’s bedroom and tried to get into bed, but he couldn’t fit. So he let some air out of his dad, but he still couldn’t fit. Then he let some air out of his mum but he couldn’t fit. So he let some air out of himself. In the morning his dad said, “You didn’t just let me down, you let your mum down, but most of all you let yourself down!”

Jack said: “My classmates are calling me Joker Jack. I’m excited to tell them I won. My brother will be really jealous, but I will share my iPad with him. I already know the first app I will download—
Minecraft!”

Jack was cheered on my his local MP, Nigel Mills, who said: “I was delighted to support Jack at the Voice Box final, which has raised awareness of the importance of communication in a fun and inclusive way. Communication is fundamental to life and every child should be supported with these essential skills to ensure they reach their full potential.”

Comedian Lee Mack sat on the judging panel along with RCSLT CEO Kamini Gadhok, TCT Director Anne Fox and nine-year old Conor Heaveron, winner of the 2012 Voice Box in Northern Ireland.

Lee Mack said: “ It was great to meet the kids and judge the Voice Box final at the Houses of Parliament. I was expecting tears and tantrums but luckily all the MPs were very well behaved. I was pleased to see such an important and worthwhile cause as communication needs given a platform at Westminster. I definitely think my job is under threat by this new wave of comedians.”

According to the RCSLT, communication disability is the most common disorder seen in childhood, affecting up to one in 10 children.

RCSLT CEO Kamini Gadhok says: “The aim of Voice Box is to remind people that in every classroom, there are children who need support”.