Latest news with #SirBillyConnollySpiritofGlasgowAward
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Winner of Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025 revealed
The winner of the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025 has finally been announced. The annual award is handed out at the end of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival's (GICF) Comedy Gala, which ran between March 12 and 30 this year. At the award ceremony this afternoon, it was revealed that Rosco McClelland was this years winner. The comedian collected his trophy onstage at the King's Theatre in Glasgow's city centre, following a touching video message from Sir Billy Connolly himself. (Image: Image of Rosco provided) Rosco was up against the likes of Marjolein Robertson, Paul Black and Kim Blythe for the trophy and title - which has previously been won by Janey Godley and Susie McCabe. Addressing Rosco directly, Sir Billy Connolly referenced one of his most famous jokes, saying: 'Congratulations to Rosco McClelland - the slug nudger! Well done - I had a good laugh at your thing about the slugs in the bin. I wish you all the very best, I hope your career goes bouncing from strength to strength and that the Glasgow humour goes bounding from strength to strength, as it will. Congratulations.' Reacting to the award himself, Rosco said: 'I honestly can't believe this, I never thought about anything to say but I'm going to Fuerteventura tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that! 'Thank you so much - to join the list of people who have won, Janey and Susie, is incredible. To know that the Big Yin has seen me do my silly wee bits of stand up is insane, that's the real prize in this. Just to hear him say my name, I can't believe this, he's the best to ever do it. Thank you to my family, everybody at Glasgow International Comedy Festival, and my agents. To everybody else who was nominated - they're fantastic comedian and fantastic people. Cheers!' Festival Director Krista MacDonald, 2024 winner Susie McCabe and comedy icon Elaine C Smith presented Rosco with the trophy. Krista said: 'Rosco McClelland is one of Scotland's brightest comedic voices and has been entertaining audiences for over a decade with his unique look at the absurdities of everyday life. "After being nominated for awards like Best Newcomer back in 2015, to see a homegrown Glaswegian talent like Rosco be honoured with 2025's Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award is a real testament to his hard work and commitment to his craft. Rosco embodies all that is exceptional about Glasgow and its comedy scene; a bold and brave brand of comedy, an unparalleled resilience and warmth and, above all else, an unfailing desire to make people laugh. 'Sir Billy Connolly is a comic who has shaped and defined Glasgow's cultural identity, and reflected the very best of this city back to audiences around the world. To have the Big Yin involved in the Festival in this way and for us to distribute an award in his name is a real honour. 'The GICF team send our warmest congratulations to Rosco as the winner of the third ever Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, as well as this year's outstanding Shortlist, who are all a shining representation of the strength of Scottish comedy.' The 2025 judging panel was comprised of radio presenter Aarti Joshi, Emmy award winning actor, author Alan Cumming, Clyde 1 radio presenter and DJ Cassi Gilespie, Still Game's Greg Hemphill, The Herald journalist Gregor Kyle, Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, entertainment journalist Laura Boyd, Channel 4's Digital Commission Editor Laura Marks, Lost Glasgow journalist Norry Wilson, actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli and comedian Susie McCabe.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the Possilpark man behind the Glesga Da podcast
'I'M just a guy that canny say no,' Raymond Mearns says ahead of his seven shows at this year's Glasgow International Comedy Festival. The comedian is returning to the festival with his solo show Looking For A Great Audience on Sunday, March 30. It will take place at the Stand Comedy Club after being shortlisted for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award in 2024. Raymond says it was 'amazing' to be shortlisted for the award. He added he's lucky to be in comedy despite never setting out to become a comedian but says it was a 'very happy and joyous accident' that he did. READ NEXT: (Image: Glasgow International Comedy Festival) 'It's already a joy and a gift, it's amazing to be paid for something you love,' he said. 'It must be one of the best things in the world.' Raymond says Looking For A Great Audience is 'just me doing my thing'. He explained: 'I always do a solo show. I take elements of that and I take it to The Fringe. 'I'm fortunate I sell it out every year. 'That's just me doing my thing, all my madness and mental ideas and maybe roasting some of the audience in the front and that sort of thing and that's great.' (Image: Supplied) A show Raymond feels particularly passionate about at this year's festival is Raymond Mearns Fool on Comedy Crew which will take place at The Flying Duck on Saturday, March 29. Fool On is a Lanarkshire-based charity which seeks to improve mental health and emotional well-being through artistic engagement. Raymond, from Possilpark, runs a Comedy Club workshop with the charity. He explained: 'It's brilliant. 'There are people with disabilities and people who can't work for various reasons, people who've got mental health problems. 'What I try and do is point them towards telling a good story, a few jokes, maybe understand a wee bit more about how they could take some of the negative aspects in their life in a situation and turn that into positive and optimize it into passages of great beauty. 'People take themselves really seriously and comedy lets you laugh at yourself, and I think that makes the world a better place.' The group previously did a show in Hamilton which he says got a 'phenomenal' response so they decided to bring it to the comedy festival. The show is described as a 'brilliant hour of original stand-up and sketches'. 'Its going to be an amazing thing, it's the product of all the hard work of the people in the class,' he added. READ NEXT: (Image: Supplied) Speaking of why he works with the charity Raymond continued: 'I think your mission in life is to find out what you're good at and then once you've done that you've got to give it away, you've got to share it. 'With every word, thought and action you just try to make the world a better place.' On March 26, Raymond will then be starring in Celtic Da's: A New Play By Phil Differ alongside Bruce Morton at the Oran Mor. 'As well as being stand up for the last three decades, I have done a bit of theatre and made a few films and TV shows,' he says. 'I'm not a brilliant actor but I think I've got some chops as an actor and I'm always keen to do something that's interesting and challenging.' 'It's about these two fellas and in the play, they're discussing things in their life. 'It's about friendship, football, Celtic, their place in the world and they're questioning that and the challenges you face when you're getting older. 'I think a lot of people will like it. You're always hoping you strike a chord with a lot of people.' Raymond will also be doing three Laughter Fest shows at Cathcart Bowling Club which he describes as a 'pick of comedians' from the festival. There will be three shows which will take place on March 14, 21 and 28. 'We're looking to get acts over to Cathcart and give them a wee bit of extra money through their act and it entertains the good people of Cathcart and the surrounding areas who might not be able to get into the city.' Podcast Glesga Da, which Raymond does alongside Stuart Mitchell, will have a live show on March 13 at BAad. Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2025 will take place from March 12 until March 30. You can find out more at
