Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow 2024 shortlist announced
It marks the start of the biggest ever Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Last updated 15th Mar 2024
The biggest ever Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) in the event’s history has officially kicked off.
Over 560 shows are set to take place across the next 17 days as the Festival also announces 2024’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award Shortlist.
Acts including Raymond Mearns, Susie McCabe, Zara Gladman and more are now in the running to win the prestigious prize.
More top comedians like Craig Hill, Susan Riddell and Luisa Omielan are announced to perform at the Festival’s Comedy Gala.
Craig Hill said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be nominated for this award, not only because it’s about the Spirit of Glasgow, which definitely feeds into the way I look at life and the things I laugh at, but it’s in the name of Glasgow’s comedy hero Billy Connolly. It’s an honour to be nominated for an award in his name. When it comes to awards, this is the Big Yin!”
READ MORE: Entries open for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2024.
Raymond Mearns said, “Surprised and delighted to be nominated for this award. To make my living as a stand up is already a dream come true and coming from Glasgow with Billy Connolly as my inspiration, I was able to stand on the shoulders of a giant.”
Rosco McClelland said, “The spirit of Billy visited me in a dream to tell me that I’d been shortlisted for this award. Then he started licking my face which was strange but oddly comforting. Then I woke up and it was just my dog who needed out. I’m very proud to be Shortlisted for this!”
Susan Riddell said, “I’m absolutely buzzing to be shortlisted for this award! I’m biased but Glasgow is one of the funniest cities in the world and to be in the running for an award endorsed by the Big Yin is the biggest honour!”
Susie McCabe said, “To be nominated for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award is a massive honour - not only an award with the Godfather of modern stand-up comedy associated with it, but a man who defined this city. And what a wonderful city it is! If you're from this city you have been blessed (maybe not so much with the weather though..)."
READ MORE: Need something to smile about? Glasgow Comedy Festival line-up revealed.
Zara Gladman said, “I am in complete shock. For Sir Billy Connolly to even read my name on a piece of paper is a huge honour. My Glasgow West End mum will be boasting about this for years to come.”
2024’s esteemed judging panel for the Sir Billy Conolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, made up of Scottish comedians, artists, journalists and more, narrowed down this year’s applications to a Shortlist of six.
Judges included 2023 award winner Janey Godley, Barbie star Sharon Rooney, legendary comic Jonathan Watson, News presenter Laura Boyd, actor Tony Curran, Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren and more.
The panel reviewed applications from GICF acts, venues and promoters to curate a Shortlist, before they will make a recommendation to Sir Billy Connolly himself who will ultimately choose the final winner.
In addition to the highly-anticipated winner announcement, GICF’s Comedy Gala will also see the very best of the fest perform on the mixed bill, with new additions to the line-up including: Billy Kirkwood, Craig Hill, Jin-Hao Li, Luisa Omielan, Rosco McClelland and Susan Riddell.
These acts will join some of Scotland’s most well known comics like 2023’s award winner Janey Godley, Raymond Mearns, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Stuart McPherson, Zara Gladman and host Susie McCabe to entertain the crowd at Glasgow’s iconic King’s Theatre.
Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “We’re thrilled to open the metaphorical doors of this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival as it officially gets underway in more than 50 venues across the city. As we celebrate 21 years of the Festival, it’s fitting that we do so with the event’s biggest year ever - with over 560 comedy shows set to take place across 19 days. Over the next few weeks Glasgow will showcase exactly why we think it’s the funniest city in the world as locals and visitors alike are entertained by some of the very best comics around. We hope to see old friends old and new out and about at GICF shows celebrating our thriving comedy scene.
“Plus, a huge congratulations to this year’s Sir Billy Conolly Spirit of Glasgow Award Shortlist - the calibre of entries was outstanding so it’s a real achievement to be recognised in this way. We’re looking forward to celebrating the Shortlist and final winner at this year’s Comedy Gala.”
Chair of Glasgow Life, Bailie Annette Christie, said: “The exciting shortlist of finalists for this prestigious award emphasises the wealth of outstanding home-grown talent appearing at this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival – which has a dynamic, packed programme and a fantastic line-up of acts.
“Honouring the city’s beloved comedy maestro, The Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award not only recognises the best in the business, it also reflects Glasgow’s great appreciation of comedy genius and the importance of humour in our lives. Our city and its people are renowned for their love of quick wit and banter, so Glasgow has a well-deserved reputation as a headline name on the worldwide comedy stage and a fabulous destination for fun-filled entertainment.”
The winner of the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award will be announced at GICF’s Comedy Gala on Saturday 30th March at the city’s King’s Theatre.