An 11-year-old from Portknockie Primary is tickling funny bones all the way to the Scottish Parliament.
Brooke Maclean has reached the final of a national joke-telling competition.
She won over local judges with her clever quip: “Why do French people eat snails? Because they don’t like fast food!”
Now she will compete in the Speech and Language Therapists’ VoiceBox final in Edinburgh this Thursday.
Brooke admits it still feels a bit unreal.
“I am nervous but excited,” she said.
“My friends encouraged me to enter, but I didn’t think I had a chance.”
“First, we had a competition in class, which I won.”
“Then I had to tell my joke in front of the whole school.”
“When I won that, my joke went through to be judged across Moray.”
“When I heard the other jokes, I thought there was no way I would win.”
“I am really pleased and still a bit surprised!”
At home, Brooke’s success has sparked some friendly sibling rivalry.
“She actually has bragging rights over her little brother because he entered too, but she beat him,” said mum Sharon.
“I am proud of both of them though.”
“Brooke has always been quite a quiet child but very witty with some brilliant one-liners.”
“This competition has been fantastic for her confidence.”
Head Teacher of Portknockie Primary, Karen Murray, is full of praise for her young star.
“We are absolutely delighted for Brooke,” she said.
“She has shown great humour and real confidence.”
“The whole school will be cheering her on this Thursday.”
“All of the pupils who took part in our school competition had a fantastic time and did brilliantly.”
Cllr Kathleen Robertson, Chair of the Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee, also offered her congratulations.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Brooke,” she said.
“I wish her the very best of luck in the final.”
“I would also like to congratulate all of the pupils who took part in the local competition, who I understand showed real creativity and wit.”
As Brooke heads to the national stage, the whole Portknockie community will be behind her.
