BEANO has crowned the winner of its 2026 Britain’s Funniest Class competition, following a nationwide search that saw a panel of the comic’s expert gag makers narrow down the wittiest submissions to their favourite ten finalists, before handing the final the final decision over to the BEANO fans.
The competition, highlighted in this week’s issue of the comic, has attracted plenty of media attention, on television and in print, with Nigel Parkinson providing caricatures of the winners… twice! It’s on sale now in all good newsagents, TG Jones stores, and most supermarkets.
Among hundreds of hilarious entries from schools across the UK, it was Boyce Class (Year 6) from Joy Lane Primary School in Whitstable, Kent, emerging victorious with their winning gag: “I didn’t think food could make calls, but then: boom! Onion rings” securing 34% of the overall vote and their title as the nation’s funniest class.
Boyce Class and their teacher, Bethan Crowe, who has also been named Britain’s Funniest Teacher, have won the ultimate prize of being immortalised in Beano form by legendary artist Nigel Parkinson.
Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief at BEANO said: “All of BEANO‘s best bits come directly from kids, championing childhood in all its playful brilliance and making reading the most mischievous thing that they can do! This competition is just one of the ways Beano brings extra fun to summer while showcasing the next wave of cheeky comedy talent. The winning joke was inventive and genuinely hilarious. Clearly, the future of comedy is in safe hands with Boyce class.”
Now in its eighth year championing the comedians of the future, the initiative aims to boost confidence and wellbeing in the classroom. To support this year’s competition, BEANO joined forces with leading children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, to create a free Bouncebackability classroom resource for teachers. Titled ‘This is My Place’, this fun-filled lesson helps children consider how jokes and laughing together can make everyone feel happy, involved and that they belong.
Joy Lane Primary School’s Bethan Crowe, crowned Britain’s Funniest Teacher said:“Having our class and joke appear in Beano is exciting! Britain’s Funniest Class is such a great competition for encouraging humour, inspiring creativity, and helping children grow in confidence. I’m a big advocate for education, including plenty of enjoyment, and not many people get the chance to share a laugh not just with their classmates, but with people from all around the nation!”
Dr Rebecca Kirkbride, Place2Be’s Clinical Director said: “Laughter can play an important role in supporting children’s wellbeing, helping to ease stress and boost confidence. Sharing jokes gives young people a simple way to connect, creating environments where everyone feels included and valued. It helps friendships grow, encourages a sense of belonging, and makes it easier for children to navigate everyday challenges. This matters more than ever so that kids can have a safe space to be themselves.”
The winning school will also receive an official BEANO ‘Britain’s Funniest Class’ trophy, as well as individual ‘Golden Gnasher’ medals, comic subscriptions for the whole class and their school library, a day trip to a Gulliver’s theme park location of their choice and copies of the Beano Joke Book published by Farshore.
Competition was close, with runners up also delivering witty one-liners including “What is a school uniform’s favourite food? TIE food!” and “What do you call a bedtime cheese? Pyjama-san!”.
Britain’s Funniest Class Shortlist
| SCHOOL NAME | JOKE | TOWN |
| Joy Lane Primary School | I didn’t think food could make calls, but then: boom! Onion rings | Whitstable |
| Riverley Primary School | What did the teacher say when the cable was late for school? WIRE you late? | Leyton |
| ESMS Junior School | What is Dennis’s favourite chocolate treat? A Kinder Beano! | Edinburgh |
| St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School | Why is our class called Amber? Because we are the warning sign before our teacher turns red! | Sydenham |
| Sandy Lane Primary | What does Gnasher have for breakfast? Paw-idge! | Bracknell |
| St Paul’s Cathedral School | Who is the best Egyptian ballerina? Tutu Khamun! | London |
| Harris Primary Academy Beckenham | What is a school uniform’s favourite food? TIE food! | Beckenham |
| Corbridge Middle School | Why doesn’t Dennis the Menace ever play music quietly? Because he only knows how to cause treble | Corbridge |
| Rosendale School | What do you call a ketchup bottle that is upside down? A ketch-down bottle! | London |
| St George’s C of E Primary School | What do you call a bedtime cheese? Pyjama-san! | Bromley |
• BEANO 4340 featuring Britain’s Funniest Class and the shortlisted jokes is on sale now
• There are plenty more jokes for kids in the BEANO website’s Kids Zone!
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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