**Punctuation Joke Tops Beano’s 2025 Britain’s Funniest Class Competition**
A Year 5 class from Riverley Primary School in Leyton, London, are celebrating after their clever wordplay around punctuation claimed the top prize in a nationwide competition organised by the iconic Beano comic. The winning entry, which cheekily asks, “What do you call the fanciest punctuation? An a-posh-trophe,” has captured the nation’s funny bone and earned the children national recognition.
Organised as part of Beano’s annual “Britain’s Funniest Class” search, the contest attracted hundreds of entries from schools up and down the country. The competition aims to shine a spotlight on young comedic talent, encouraging children to work together on jokes that reflect their creative brilliance and mischievous sense of humour.
The panel for this year’s contest, comprised of Beano’s experienced comedy writers, carefully whittled down submissions to a shortlist of ten jokes. The final say, however, was left to the public, as readers were invited to cast their votes for the joke they found most entertaining. The children’s playful take on punctuation secured the top spot amidst stiff competition.
In addition to the class’s success, their teacher, Maisha Mahfuza, received the honour of being named “Britain’s Funniest Teacher.” She will be celebrated alongside her class in the 4,290th issue of the Beano comic, with artwork by renowned Beano illustrator Nigel Parkinson, bringing their winning moment to life.
Mike Stirling, who holds the title of Director of Mischief at Beano, expressed his admiration for this year’s entries, emphasising that the comic’s ethos is rooted in celebrating the light-heartedness and creativity of childhood. “As the only comic where children set the tone, Beano champions youthful fun in a world saturated with screens,” Stirling commented. “This competition lets us discover and nurture the comedy stars of tomorrow whilst keeping British humour alive and thriving.”
Reflecting on her class’s achievement, Ms Mahfuza described the moment as “surreal,” noting the positive impact that laughter and teamwork have in the classroom. She remarked, “Initiatives like this inspire children to be creative and confident. Learning, after all, should be lively and enjoyable—there are not many people who can say their joke made the nation laugh!”
The winners’ haul includes the official Beano “Britain’s Funniest Class” trophy, the much-coveted Gnasher Badges, and a year-long comic subscription for every class member—a prize certain to delight any budding comedian.
Other entries in the competition’s top ten demonstrate the inventiveness of young minds. Standout jokes ranged from the topical—“What’s the cleverest school dinner? Maths potato”—to the pun-laden—“What’s the opposite of a Dandelion? A BeanoTiger.” Children also revived classic joke formats with twists, such as: “Why did the shark have stomachache? Because it ate a school dinner,” and, “Why did the chicken cross the road? Be-CAAWWW-se.”
The Beano itself holds a long-standing place in British comic culture, known for its legacy of slapstick and slapdash wit. Regular competitions within the magazine are part of ongoing efforts to keep traditional comic humour relevant and accessible to new generations, especially at a time when digital entertainment is more prevalent than ever.
For Riverley Primary and their class teacher, this national accolade will become a memorable highlight of the school year, cementing their place in Beano history—and demonstrating that, sometimes, the greatest laughs can come from the smallest punctuation marks.