{{Short description|Comedian and a children's author}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Autobiography|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox comedian | image = Olaf Falafel Funniest Joke Of The Fringe.jpg | caption = Falafel with the 2019 Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award | pseudonym = Olaf Falafel | birth_date = 1976-1977<ref name="tg aug 24">{{Cite news |last=Logan |first=Brian |date=2024-08-06 |title='This isn't going to be sensible!' Olaf Falafel, Edinburgh fringe's king of one-liners|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/aug/06/this-isnt-going-to-be-sensible-olaf-falafel-edinburgh-fringes-king-of-one-liners |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> | years_active = 2012-present | website = {{url|http://www.olaffalafel.com}} }} '''Olaf Falafel''' is a British comedian and children's author. Falafel illustrates his own books and is the creator and presenter of Art Club, an online art channel for children.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 January 2021|title=From Shakespeare to drawing sausage dogs: the best TV for homeschooling|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/08/youtube-bbc-bitesize-the-best-tv-for-homeschooling|access-date=2021-01-08|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en|first=Stuart|last=Heritage}}</ref> He has been a stand-up comedian since 2012<ref>{{Cite news|title=Comedy is the solution for maths expert Matt|url=https://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/10093355.maths-teacher-matt-hake-has-the-perfect-solution-for-local-comedians-as-he-opens-the-new-harpenden-comedy-club/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=St Albans & Harpenden Review|language=en|first=Rosy|last=Moorhead}}</ref> and is known for posting humorous videos on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2015/11/23/23648/unilad_stole_my_vine%21 |website=Chortle |department=Comedy News |title=Unilad stole my Vine! Comedians frustration as gag goes viral |date=November 23, 2015 |access-date=2022-12-31 }}</ref> His humour frequently involves puns and absurdity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2018/08/05/40686/olaf_falafel:_theres_no_i_in_idiot |website=Chortle |department=Reviews |title=Olaf Falafel: There's no i in idiot |date=August 5, 2018 |first=Steve |last=Bennett |access-date=2022-12-31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/edinburgh-fringe-olaf-falafel-review-absurdity-so-wellcrafted-that-silly-doesnt-do-it-justice-a3912566.html |newspaper=The Evening Standard |department=Culture |title=Edinburgh Fringe, Olaf Falafel review: Absurdity so well-crafted that silly doesn't do it justice |date=August 15, 2018 |first=Bruce |last=Dessau |access-date=2022-12-31 }}</ref>
==Early life== Falafel is from Luton.<ref name="tg aug 24"/>
==Career==
Falafel worked as an art director before becoming a comedian,<ref name="chortle.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2016/12/01/26350/comic_lands_a_book_deal_-_after_asking_for_one_on_twitter |website=Chortle |department=News |title=Comic Lands a Book Deal After Asking for one on Twitter |date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> and came up with his stage name as part of a workshop at the Tringe Festival, a comedy festival in Tring.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Logan |first=Brian |date=2024-08-06 |title='This isn't going to be sensible!' Olaf Falafel, Edinburgh fringe's king of one-liners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/aug/06/this-isnt-going-to-be-sensible-olaf-falafel-edinburgh-fringes-king-of-one-liners |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In 2014, he was nominated for the Laughing Horse Comedy Club's New Act of the Year competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk/comedy/CompPastYears.asp |title=New Act of the Year – Previous Winners and Finalists |website=Laughing Horse |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> In 2017 he was included in both ''The Guardian''{{'}}s and ''The Telegraph''{{'}}s rundowns of the funniest jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/aug/15/the-10-best-jokes-from-the-edinburgh-fringe |newspaper=The Guardian |title=The 10 best jokes from the Edinburgh Fringe |date=August 15, 2017 |first=Paul |last=Fleckney |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/edinburgh-fringe-comedians-funniest-jokes/olaf-falafel/ |newspaper=The Telegraph |title=The 60 Funniest One Liners from the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe |date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> In 2018 Falafel was in Dave channel's, ''The Mirror''{{'}}s, ''The Evening Standard''{{'}}s, ''The Scotsman''{{'}}s and i News's rundowns of the top jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/edinburgh-fringes-top-10-best-jokes-revealed-11477275 |work=Sky News |title=Edinburgh Fringe's Top 10 Jokes Revealed |date=August 20, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/best-jokes-edinburgh-festival-fringe-13088039 |newspaper=The Mirror |title=The Best Jokes from Edinburgh Festival Fringe this Year |first=Julie |last=McCaffrey |date=August 15, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/jokes/edinburgh-fringe-one-liners-best-jokes/ |work=i News |title=60 Edinburgh Fringe One-Liners that Really Deserved to Win Funniest Joke |date=August 19, 2019 |first=Finlay |last=Greig |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/edinburgh-fringe-festival-2018-best-jokes-25-of-the-top-gags-from-the-fringe-a3908621.html |newspaper=Evening Standard |title=Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018 Best Jokes |date=August 10, 2018 |first=Jessie |last=Thompson |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/edinburgh-festivals/the-10-best-jokes-of-the-edinburgh-fringe-2018-1-4786540 |newspaper=The Scotsman |title=The 10 Best Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe |date=August 20, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> and won an award for his festival poster.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/o/34255/olaf_falafel/news |website=Chortle |title=Olaf Falafel writes a kids' adventure |date=July 2, 2021 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref>
Falafel secured a three-book contract with HarperCollins in 2016, after asking for a publisher to approach him in a tweet.<ref name="chortle.co.uk"/>
In 2019, Falafel made headlines by winning the Best Joke Of The Fringe.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49389208 |work=BBC News |title=Edinburgh Fringe funniest joke: Vegetable gag wins top prize |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> He took the title with the gag: "I keep randomly shouting out 'Broccoli' and 'Cauliflower' – I think I might have florets".
In 2020, Falafel signed a two-book deal with Walker books to illustrate ''Unleash Your Creative Monster'',<ref name="hackett2020">{{Cite web |title=Walker Books signs two-book deal with creative duo Andy Jones and Olaf Falafel |website=The Bookseller |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/walker-books-signs-two-book-deal-creative-duo-andy-jones-and-olaf-falafel-1206125 |date=June 11, 2020 |first=Tamsin |last=Hackett |access-date=December 31, 2022 }}</ref> a "funny and informative" guide to creative writing.
In 2021, off the back of his Art Club YouTube videos,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title='The greatest thing to happen during lockdown' |department=Features |website=Chortle |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2021/03/31/48125/the_greatest_thing_to_happen_during_lockdown |access-date=2021-10-01 |language=en |date=March 31, 2021}}</ref> Falafel signed a two-book deal with Puffin to create his first middle grade chapter books called ''Trixie Pickle Art Avenger''<ref name="hackett2021">{{Cite web |title=Puffin serves up Falafel's 'laugh-out-loud' middle-grade adventure |website=The Bookseller |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/puffin-picks-middle-grade-adventure-olaf-falafel-1267160 |access-date=2021-10-01 |first=Tamsin |last=Hackett |date=July 2, 2021 }}</ref> about a child who becomes their school's version of Banksy.
In August 2022, Falafel had two jokes in the Best Joke of the Edinburgh Fringe Top Ten list.{{cn|date=January 2024}}
In 2023 Falafel's picture book ''Blobfish'' won The Society Of Authors Queen's Knickers Award<ref name="qk2023">{{cite web |title=The 2023 Queen's Knickers Award Winner |url=https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/queens-knickers-awards/ |publisher=Society of Authors |access-date=5 January 2024 |date=8 May 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108185610/https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/queens-knickers-awards/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Federation of Children's Book Groups' Children's Book Award,<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Federation of Children's Book Groups |date=4 February 2023 |title=Children's Book Award 2023 |url=https://fcbg.org.uk/childrens-book-award-2023/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105110502/https://fcbg.org.uk/childrens-book-award-2023/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Children's Writing on Nature and Conservation.<ref name="cropper2023short">{{cite web |title=10th Anniversary Shortlist for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize Announced |date=10 August 2023|url=https://wainwrightprize.com/news/10th-anniversary-shortlists-for-james-cropper-wainwright-prize-announced/|website=Wainwright Prize |publisher=James Cropper plc |access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
In March 2024 Falafel won 'Best Kids Show' at the Leicester Comedy Festival, for his show 'Olaf Falafel's Stupidest Super Stupid Show (Yet)'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title='Jenny Eclair's Officially a Legend' |department=Comedy News |website=Chortle |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2024/03/18/55197/jenny_eclairs_officially_a_legend |access-date=2024-03-20 |language=en |date=March 18, 2024}}</ref> Falafel also illustrated the map and provided the narration of penguin facts for a "Penguin Parade" sculpture trail in London, exhibited between November 2024 and January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-16 |title=Fleet Street Quarter: Festive penguins go on display |url=https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/c3rx12dx2l4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108202729/https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/c3rx12dx2l4o |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=A Penguin Parade Sculpture Trail Has Marched Into Fleet Street |url=https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/penguin-parade-sculpture-trail-fleet-street-christmas-2024 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Londonist |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=THE FLEET STREET QUARTER PENGUIN PARADE SCULPTURE TRAIL |url=https://www.fleetstreetquarter.co.uk/events/the-fleet-street-quarter-penguin-parade-sculpture-trail |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Fleet Street Quarter |language=en}}</ref>
==Live Shows== * 2015 – ''Expect the Unexporcupine'' (with Michael Stranney)<ref>[https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2015/michael_stranney_olaf_falafel/ The British Comedy Guide – Edinburgh Fringe 2015]</ref> * 2016 – ''Olaf Falafel and the Cheese of Truth''<ref>[https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/83263-olaf-falafel-and-the-cheese-of-truth/ The List – Reviews]</ref> * 2017 – ''The Marmosets of My Mind''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2017/07/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2017-olaf-falafel-presents-the-marmosets-of-my-mind/ |title=The Edinburgh Reporter – Culture |access-date=January 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210183035/https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2017/07/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2017-olaf-falafel-presents-the-marmosets-of-my-mind/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * 2018 – ''There's no I in Idiot''<ref>[https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2018/08/05/40686/olaf_falafel:_theres_no_i_in_idiot Chortle – Reviews]</ref> * 2019 – ''Olaf Falafel Presents Knitting With Maracas'' * 2022 – ''Olaf Falafel's Super Stupid Show (family friendly show)'' * 2022 – ''Olaf Falafel STOAT'' * 2023 – ''Olaf Falafel's Super Stupid Show 20% More Stupider (family friendly show)'' * 2023 – ''Look What Fell Out Of My Head''
==Books== * 2017 – ''Old Macdonald Heard a Parp'' * 2017 – ''Father Christmas Heard a Parp'' * 2018 – ''Old Macdonald Heard a Parp from the Past''<ref>[https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/author/4678/Olaf-Falafel.html Love Reading]</ref> * 2019 – ''It's One Giant Leek For Mankind''<ref>[http://www.olaffalafel.com/ Olaf Falafel]</ref> *2021 – ''Unleash Your Creative Monster''<ref name="hackett2020" /> *2022 – ''Trixie Pickle Art Avenge''r<ref name="hackett2021" /> *2022 – ''Blobfish''<ref>{{Cite news |last=O’Connell |first=Alex |title=Blobfish by Olaf Falafel review — fish it out, it's blobby good |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/blobfish-by-olaf-falafel-review-8jkdfdsw9 |access-date=2022-06-05 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> *2023 – ''Trixie Pickle Art Avenger - Toxic Takedown''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Falafel |first=Olaf |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/445508/trixie-pickle-art-avenger-toxic-takedown-by-falafel-olaf/9780241537664 |title=Trixie Pickle Art Avenger: Toxic Takedown |date=2023-05-04 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{wikidata-inline}} *[http://www.olaffalafel.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falafel, Olaf}} Category:Living people Category:British stand-up comedians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:British children's writers Category:British humorists Category:Comedians from Bedfordshire Category:People from Luton Category:Writers from Bedfordshire