THE shortlist for this year's Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award has been announced as one of Scotland’s biggest comedy festivals has officially kicked off.
The winner of the prestigious award will be announced by the Big Yin himself on Glasgow International Comedy Festival’s (GICF) last day, March 30, at the city’s King’s Theatre.
Festival organisers said this year seven acts were selected for the shortlist of the award, as opposed to the usual six, due to the standard of applications.
Previous winners include Susie McCabe, in 2024, and Janey Godley, in 2023, with McCabe set to present this year’s award at the Comedy Gala.
This year’s shortlist for the award includes Craig Hill, Kim Blythe, Marjolein Robertson, Paul Black, Rosco McClelland, Scott Agnew and Viv Gee.
Known for his riotous shows which have sold out countless Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs East Kilbride’s Hill said he is “chuffed” to be nominated.
He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for this award! How could you not be? An award in the name of the great Billy Connolly in the spirit of the city he came from, is an absolute honour. So chuffed! Thank you very much Glasgow.”
Blythe is best known for her viral online sketches about everyday life and has gone on to sell out two shows at GICF in her very first year.
She said: “I am floored and buzzing to be Shortlisted for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award! To be mentioned anywhere near the Big Yin or any of the previous winners and nominees is a bit mental to me but I’m over the moon!”
The 2025 Shortlist was chosen by a panel of judges from across Scotland’s creative industries, including Emmy award winning actor and artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre Alan Cumming, journalist Laura Boyd, comedian Sanjeev Kohli and 2024’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award winner Susie McCabe.
Applications were open to anyone involved in this year’s GICF - from comedians to promoters, managers and venue staff.
The judging panel reviewed all applications and curated a shortlist and made their own recommendations to Connolly, who ultimately gets to decide who will be the winner.
Black (below) is regarded as one of Scotland’s biggest TikTok’s stars and will perform his hugely successful sketch show at the King’s Theatre this year.
“It’s a real honour to be nominated for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award and to be recognised in his name in the best city in the world,” he said.
“I will be citing this nomination on every gig poster for the rest of my life!”
Meanwhile, McClelland had one of 2024’s top reviewed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and kicked off his career by winning Scottish Comedian of the Year in 2016.
He said: “To be nominated two years in a row for this award is incredible. Billy Connolly is an idol to this city, and to be mentioned in the same breath is a huge honour. Also, I will enter this every single year until I win!”
Agnew (below) made his debut BBC Radio 4 series Dead Man Talking last year, following a career which has seen him perform comedy for over 24 years, and said Connolly has been his idol since he was in primary school.
“What a lovely bit of news, proper tickety boo as a certain someone might say. I'm really honoured and chuffed to be nominated,” he said.
“He's been my idol and hero since I was in primary school - he got me into trouble at Primary School - and to think now he's got his beady eyes on me, scrutinising my work, makes me nervous. I'll end up In The Brownies!”
GICF began on Wednesday with shows across the city including a Bring Your Own Baby comedy show at Van Winkle Barrowlands for parents and kids, while Matt Forde’s brought his End of an Era tour, Robin Grainger to The Stand.
With more than 550 shows at the festival encompassing all comedy genres the GICF will run until Sunday 30th March.
The festival will conclude with the GICF Comedy Gala which will see the very best of the festival perform at the King’s Theatre, before crowning 2025’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award winner.
Festival director Krista MacDonald said it is an honour to have Connolly involved and the award recognises the “very specific” Glaswegian humour.
She said: “A massive congratulations from the team at GICF to this year’s Sir Billy Connolly Award Shortlist - it’s an outstanding achievement to make it onto the seven-strong list amidst some fierce competition. It’s an honour for the festival to have Sir Billy Connolly involved in this way and the Award recognises the very specific Glaswegian humour, warmth and resilience that the Big Yin is so beloved for.
She added: “Over the next few weeks, Glasgow will have its world renowned humour on full display as we welcome comics from near and far to entertain the city and showcase exactly why it’s the funniest city in the world.”
