Scottish Comedian of the Year 2007

Footage from the Aberdeen heat

More Gus Tawse videos

Aberdonian Gus Tawse’s first brush with showbiz came in 1989, when he won a primary school talent contest, doing impressions of such star names as Saint & Greavsie, Alan Wicker and the Grandad from Bread.

It took 17 years for him to turn to stand-up, and has since become a regular on the Scottish circuit. He made the final of the Scottish Comedian Of The Year competition in 2007, where he came third, and 2009, when he was joint second.

Gus Tawse at the 2009 Scottish Comedian Of The Year final
Live Review
Glasgow City Halls and Old Fruitmarket

Bluff half-Turkish Aberdonian Gus Tawse has a compellingly forceful style, even if some gags – such as asking for a ‘number two’ in a barber’s shop and sending Valentine cards to dyslexics have previously featured in other comics’ sets.

It’s likely to be coincidence, as there’s plenty else in his crowd-pleasing set with a more distinctive mark, such as his contemporary reference to the ‘cash for gold’ ads or his routine about the actress who plays Big Mo in EastEnders, which uses repetition with playful skill.

Not everything was so strong, but the delivery was exemplary, and nailed him the other joint second place in a field that wasn’t particularly strong.

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