Richard's version in 12 sentences. Listen, repeat, and get ready to tell the joke yourself! Then: tell the whole joke →
How to work: click ▶, listen to Richard, then repeat the sentence aloud. Imitate his voice: surprised (“Gosh, it's amazing!”), then embarrassed (“I'm awfully sorry…”). In the question Couldn't you have given the ticket to a friend?, the voice goes up at the end. And for the punchline, take your time!
1Set the scene
The man had a chance to buy a ticket for the final of the international cricket competition in London.
He bought the ticket, well in advance, which is just as well, as the prices went up and up nearer the time.
2At the stadium
Anyway, he arrived at the stadium, he took his seat just as the match was about to begin.
He looked to his side and there was an empty seat.
3The remark
He turned to the man who was sitting next to it and said:
“Gosh, it's amazing, here it is, an empty seat.”
“Somebody paid an awful lot of money for this and they haven't actually turned up.”
4The answer
The man said: “Well, I actually bought the ticket.”
“It was really for my wife, but unfortunately she died.”
5The reaction and the question
The man turned to him and said: “Oh, gosh, I'm awfully sorry to hear about that.”
“But, but, you know, tell me, couldn't you have given the ticket to a friend or relation?”
6The punchline
The man turned to him and said: “Well, they're all at the funeral!”