Comedy and panto legend Elaine C Smith to get Freedom of Glasgow tonight

Comedy and panto legend Elaine C Smith will be presented with the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in a special event with the Lord Provost tonight.

The Two Doors Down actress is the first woman to receive the honour since 1969 and she has been 56 years since another woman was given the title.

She told Kerrang! Radio: "I have lived in Glasgow for 45 years but it hasn't always been in easy place to live in.

"It wasn't always ideal for women, gay men or gay women and anybody different - there was a real feeling of conformity.

"There were no female heads of newspapers or theatres and if there were it was very unusual."

The 66-year-old will be granted the title at a reception with the Lord Provost in front of more than 200 people tonight.

She has invited her nearest and dearest as well as the cast of Two Doors Down, singer Susan Boyle and writer Val McDermid.

She added: "I thought I would just be asked into the Lord Provost's office and get given a little scroll, but this is a huge event.

"There are many women over the years who should have had this honour and so I have named all the tables in the room after women in a nod to them.

"My family freaked out when I told them they will be piped in with me at the top table and there is a formal part of the evening with speeches and I have to sign something."

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