Adam Ernest Pickard scoops title in Leicester

Adam Ernest Pickard has won the UK Pun Championships at the Leicester Comedy Festival. 

The comedian saw off competition from Katie Pritchard, Louie Falls, Mary Cross, Nayim Ali, Paggy Gacheva, Richard Stott and Richard Woolford in the contest at De Montfort Hall 

Pickard’s winning material included:

• ‘The song Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII. I’d play some of it here, but it’s not royalty-free.’
• ‘Only women can use the herbal dumbbells. Thyme weights for no man.’
• I've compiled everyone who works at my local takeaway pizza place into a book. It's my Domino's Who's Who" [Sung like the jingle]
• ‘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."’

After his victory, Pickard said: ‘I think I just won the UK Pun Championship—unless this is a very elaborate prank, which is amazing, as I thought everyone was very strong, both physically and in terms of the workplace. This is probably the biggest gig I’ve ever done, so to win it as well—it’s great!’

The event, hosted by comedian Jason Byrne, saw contestants compete in a boxing ring surrounded by a live audience. Byrne provided topics and the comedians responded with puns, with audience reaction determining who progressed through the rounds.

The competition came down to a final between Pickard and Falls, with Pickard claiming the championship belt, as designed by Cornish comedian Colin Leggo, who won the competition in 2019.

Michael Harris-Wakelam, chief executive of Big Difference Company, the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival, said: ‘The UK Pun Championships are a highlight for anyone who loves fast-paced comedy. The skill on display this year was outstanding. This event is a flagship of our festivals programme and celebrates and champions the art involved in great wordplay.’

The festival runs throughout February and features more than 700 shows.

Published: 10 Feb 2026