IT’S a laugh a minute for Dorset’s newest world record holder.

Comedy magician Clive Greenaway has scooped the Guinness World Record for most jokes told in a minute.

And Clive, who impersonates Tommy Cooper, did it ‘just like that’.

Although he told the quickfire gags last year the record has only just been verified.

And Clive says the art of joke telling is alive and well.

He started the process around the time of the World Cup.

He heard that the favourites to win – Germany – also held the previous world record of the most jokes told in a minute because comedian Markus Weise claimed the title on August 14, 2012 by telling 21 jokes.

To be in with a chance of scooping the record Clive had to be a professional comedian, there had to be judges and timekeepers present, the attempt had to be done as part of a live show and all the rules had to be explained to the audience before he began.

At the time he was coming to the end of his UK tour ‘A Night Out with Tommy Cooper’ in which he impersonates the late comedian. He thought it would be a perfect time to try.

The penultimate show was at Weymouth Pavilion on June 20, 2014 where Clive told some of the infamous Tommy Cooper jokes including: “Man walks into a bar – ouch . . . it was an iron bar.”

“I’m on a whiskey diet . . . I lost three days last week.”

“Went to the paper shop . . . but it had blown away.”

On the night Clive drew with the previous world champion. However, he was performing two days later at the Haverhill Arts Centre in Suffolk, this time with a BAFTA judge present.

“I was fast and slick, my timing was spot on, the crowd went mad and this time I got it.”

The comedian had told 26 jokes in one minute, beating Markus Weise.

Following the show, paperwork, recordings and statements were sent off to Guinness World Records. It took six months for all the evidence to be analysed but at last the certificate has been sent to Clive, who is officially the world record holder.

“Doing this challenge and seeing the amazing response from my audience has made me realise just how much people love good old-fashioned jokes. I think the world is ready for another about-turn in comedy as the real art of joke telling is alive and well,” he said.

“I had always wanted to have a world record as I think you should aim to be the best you can at whatever you do” added Clive, someone who mumbled at school and was constantly told to raise his head and speak up.