Knock, knock – who's there? It's Ronan and he’s made the final of a national joke telling competition!

A pupil from North Walls Community School is set to raise a laugh on the national stage this week (June 6) after qualifying for the final of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) VoiceBox joke competition. 

The countdown is now on as VoiceBox, a nationwide contest for primary schools, is designed to shine a spotlight on the crucial role communication plays in a child’s development. 

Ronan McGeehan, from primary 4, impressed judges with a joke that was graded on originality, delivery and its punchline, and has already won £100 worth of Harper Collins books for making it this far. 

The winning joke: “What do you call a singing laptop?” “A Dell!” 

His joke was put head-to-head with jokes from across the area and crowned best in Orkney – earning him a place in the grand final in Edinburgh, where he will compete against 27 other finalists from across the country. 

Ronan will be attending the Scottish Parliament on Thursday June 6 and tell his joke in front of the MSPs and VIPs in attendance. The event will be hosted by Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, with Zara Janjua, a BBC journalist and comedian, compering the occasion. 

Top prizes are on offer from competition sponsor Collins Big Cat, the leading whole-school primary reading programme providing complete support from phonics to fluency.  

Finalists are in with the chance of winning £500 worth of Collins Big Cat books for their school for first place, and £200 worth of Collins Big Cat books for their school for 2nd and 3rd place. The top three winners will also receive a £100 toy gift card to add to their prizes. 

Glenn Carter, a spokesperson for the event, said: "It's great to see our local winners move on to the final of VoiceBox. This competition isn't just about making people laugh; it's about showing how important good speaking skills are for success in school and later in life. 

"VoiceBox shows how valuable it is for kids to learn how to communicate well. Helping them now sets them up for a better future." 

Lizzi Jones, Head of Sales and Marketing for Scotland from HarperCollins Publishers, said: "We are delighted to support the development of children’s communication skills through VoiceBox and the message that it is spreading. We believe that this will help improve children’s literacy and comprehension abilities through the enjoyment of telling a joke.”