Alec advances to final of national competition with Harry Potter-themed joke

A PRIMARY six pupil from Dunrossness Primary School has turned a good gag into a golden ticket for Holyrood after being named a finalist in a national joke-telling competition.

Alec Colvin has been crowned the winner of the Shetland regional heat in the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) VoiceBox competition – a national joke-telling contest celebrating the power of communication.

He will now head to the grand finale at the Scottish Parliament on 5 June, where 32 of Scotland’s funniest primary school pupils – one from each local authority – will compete for the title of VoiceBox Champion 2025.

Alec’s joke which earned a place in the final, was: “What do you call a clumsy wizard? Fumbledore.”

The event will be hosted by Alison Johnstone MSP, presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, with Zara Janjua, BBC journalist and stand-up comedian, taking the mic as compère.

Alec has already secured £100 worth of Collins Big Cat books for the Dunrossness school, and is in the running for the top prizes which include £500 of books for the winning school.

Glenn Carter, Head of RCSLT Scotland, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all the regional winners who’ve earned a place in the national final. VoiceBox is about much more than making people laugh. It’s about highlighting the vital role that communication plays in every part of a child’s life.

“Speech, language and communication, skills are the foundation for learning, social connection, mental wellbeing and future employment. Yet too many children still struggle without the support they need, often going unnoticed.

“Competitions like VoiceBox show just how powerful a child’s voice can be when given a platform and why it’s so important that we continue to invest in speech and language therapy to support children’s communication.

“These children aren’t just telling jokes. They’re showing us how the ability to communicate can positively impact confidence, creativity and connection.”