Why a picture of a parrot?
One of my Dad's favourite jokes goes like this…
A woman passes a pet shop and spots a stunning blue and gold parrot.
“How much?” she asks.
“Twenty quid,” says the shopkeeper.
“That’s cheap,” she says.
“Yeah… but he’s got form. He used to live in a brothel — and let’s just say, he's picked up some colourful language.”
At home, she uncovers the cage, and the parrot looks around. “New place. Very nice.”
The woman’s two daughters walk in. “New place, new girls. Very nice indeed.”
Then her husband walks through the door… The parrot goes... “Hello, Keith.”
This website is dedicated to the short film ‘Joke’, based on ten of Barry Cryer’s favourite jokes. You might know him as one of Britain’s finest gag writers — a man known for his warmth, humility, and lifelong love of making people laugh. Usually with a joke. Not edgy political jokes, crude dirty jokes, or mean-spirited jokes. He loved jokes that were little stories — slices of life, tales of human silliness, and good old-fashioned domestic intrigue.
Joke - The Film is a celebration of that tradition — bringing his favourite gags to life on screen. Expect a parrot. A vicar. A curate. A pub. Moths. A Bible. A chicken. Two doctors. A vet. An archbishop. And a few surprises… all with the help of some of British comedy’s finest, who are already on board — friends, fans, and legends. Between them, they’ve won:
🏆 1 Oscar | 1 Emmy | 14 BAFTAs | 10 Oliviers | 9 Comedy Awards
It’ll be directed by his son, the actor & writer Bob Cryer (also his biographer), who worked with Barry on many projects, including the podcast ‘Now Where Were We?’.
In collaboration with the brilliant Slapstick Festival in Bristol — one of Barry’s favourites — the Cryer family is proud to be launching The Golden Baz, a new award for outstanding comedy writing, inspired by the Aardman-designed accolade he received in 2015.
Joke - The Film will premiere at next year’s festival in February 2026 — a joyful tribute not just to Dad, but to the timeless power of a well-told joke.
Why do we need your help?
We’ve already secured part of our budget through private funding, and we'll look to add to this with further funding applications and sponsorship. However, to truly bring this film to life with the care, heart, and quality it deserves, we need your help to raise the rest. We’re launching a Kickstarter campaign on:
That fund will cover just under half of our overall budget, but every backer will play a vital role in bringing Joke to life.
Your support directly funds:
✔ Fair pay for our brilliant cast and crew
✔ High-quality production to do these jokes justice
✔ A tribute that’s independent, heartfelt, and made for the people who love a good laugh
As a backer, you’ll get:
🎬 Behind-the-scenes access
🐦 Exclusive updates (and probably more parrots)
🎟 The chance to be part of a special moment for British comedy
When you back this project, you’re not just funding a film — you’re joining a celebration. Of Dad. Of great jokes. Of shared laughter.
Stay in the Loop
You can also sign up for the regular email newsletter about Joke and The Golden Baz here:
👉 Newsletter
Or if you're interested in other forms of collaboration (such as sponsorship) that you’d rather discuss outside of Kickstarter, email us directly at:
👉 bob@jokefilm.com
Thank you for reading. We'll let you get back to your day…
