Scotland’s biggest comedy festival has officially kicked off with Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) announcing the Shortlist for 2025’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award in the event’s opening days. Craig Hill, Kim Blythe, Paul Black, Rosco McClelland and more are in the running to win the Festival’s only award, with the winner unveiled at the GICF Comedy Gala on the event’s final day, as chosen by the Big Yin himself.
The GICF Comedy Gala takes place on Sunday 30th March at the city’s King’s Theatre - tickets on sale via www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com
2025’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award Shortlist is:
Seven acts were selected for the Shortlist, as opposed to the usual six, due to the standard of applications.
Craig Hill 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.”
Kim Blythe 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!”
Marjolein Robertson said: “I'm overwhelmed to be nominated for this award. Billy Connolly to me is the father of storytelling comedy. He broke the mould bringing his folk background and telling stories, creating images on stage. He's my greatest inspiration so to be included in this makes me feel like leaving Shetland to pursue comedy and bring my home's folktales to the stage was the right choice.”
Paul Black said: “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. I will be citing this nomination on every gig poster for the rest of my life!”
Rosco McClelland 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!”
Scott Agnew said: "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'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!"
Viv Gee said: “I feel so honoured to be Shortlisted for this award. Billy Connolly represents everything I love about comedy and about Glasgow. As an East coaster who’s made Glasgow her home this is Pure Dead Brilliant.”
A mainstay of Scotland’s comedy scene for over 20 years, East Kilbride’s own Craig Hill is shortlisted this year, following his riotous shows which have sold out countless Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs, showcasing his razor-sharp wit and unrivalled audience interactions. Glaswegian comedian Kim Blythe stormed onto the scene with viral online sketches about everyday life before going on to perform two sold out shows at GICF in her very first year and taking part in the Festival’s first ever Introduction to Comedy Course in 2024. Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson took her storytelling comedy to new heights during lockdown, and has entertained audiences throughout the UK with her comedy folktales and a hit trilogy of rave-reviewed shows. Glasgow comic Paul Black is one of TikTok’s biggest stars and will this year perform his hugely successful sketch show at the King’s Theatre, having moved from online comedy to hilarious live shows and cementing himself as one of the country’s most exciting rising stars.
With one of 2024’s top reviewed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, Rosco McClelland has grown into one of the comedy industry’s best performing comedians, after kicking off his career by winning Scottish Comedian of the Year in 2016. Glaswegian comic Scott Agnew is also Shortlisted, having written his debut BBC Radio 4 series ‘Dead Man Talking’ last year, following a career which has seen him perform comedy for over 24 years. Rounding off the Shortlist; Viv Gee is a comedian and stand-up comedy teacher, who has shaped the careers of stars from Richard Gadd to Susie McCabe and teaches the GICF Introduction to Comedy Course each year, proving an unparalleled commitment to Scottish comedy.
The 2025 Shortlist was chosen by a panel of judges from across Scotland’s cultural spheres, including Emmy award winning actor, author and Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre Alan Cumming; entertainment journalist Laura Boyd; actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli and 2024’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award winner Susie McCabe, and more.
Applications were open to anyone involved in this year’s GICF - from comedians themselves, promoters, managers and venue staff. The judging panel reviewed all applications and curated a shortlist, making a recommendation to Sir Billy Connolly himself, who ultimately chooses the final winner.
Previous winners include Janey Godley (2023) and Susie McCabe (2024), with Susie McCabe set to present this year’s award at the Comedy Gala.
One of Glasgow’s biggest events in the cultural calendar, GICF kicked off on Wednesday 12th March with shows across the city including a ‘Bring Your Own Baby’ comedy show at Van Winkle Barrowlands for parents and kids alike, Matt Forde’s ‘End of an Era’ tour, Robin Grainger at The Stand and more.
GICF headliners include this weekend’s Connor Burns and Jimeoin performances at the King’s Theatre, plus comedy shows at the Barrowland Ballroom with Northern Irish comic Paddy McDonnell and homegrown hero Larry Dean playing the iconic East End stage, as well as a St Patrick’s Day special at The Stand. Over the next two weeks, shows including Here Comes the Guillotine’s live podcast show, Marjolein Robertson, Paul Black, Darren Connell, Material Girl and more will perform as part of over 550 shows at the Festival.
The event encompasses every genre of comedy with special family friendly shows taking place at The Stand from ‘Kidocracy’ where the kids are in charge, Gary Dunn’s ‘Krazy Kerfuffle’ combining magic and laughter, or science teacher and stand-up comic Stephen Halkett’s ‘Save the Planet’ kid show. For more traditional stand-up, comedy fans can see some of the UK’s biggest acts from Russell Kane to Susie McCabe, or check out stars on the rise at The Old Hairdresser’s on 29th March with Work in Progress shows from new comics Kyrah Gray, Peter Rethinasamy and more.
GICF runs until Sunday 30th March, culminating in 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: “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.
“It’s exciting to see this year’s event get underway in so many fantastic venues already - from iconic comedy clubs like The Stand and Blackfriars to some of the more unique venues we have this year including the famous Barrowland Ballroom. 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.”
The 2025 festival will feature shows across every genre of comedy from traditional stand-up, live podcasts, clowning, improv, theatre, kids shows, musicals and more, with shows for all age ranges hosted in venues across the city. The 2025 edition of GICF runs as part of Glasgow’s 850 celebrations in 2025.
2025 festival tickets are on sale via www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com.
Craig Hill picture by Steve Ullathorne
