Capturing the Big Yin's spirit at the Glasgow Comedy Festival

Six comedians have been nominated for the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award.

They are:

• Scott Agnew
• Paul Black
• Janey Godley
• Craig Hill
• Kieran Hodgson
• Susie McCabe

The award is being handed out by the ongoing Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the winner will be revealed at the festival’s closing gala held at the King’s Theatre on Sunday/

Sir Billy has said of the award: ‘Glasgow defies description. Many great men and women have tried to describe its spirit and failed miserably. What do you say about a town that dances, sings, plays and jokes differently from everybody else? The winner of this award will have to be a nutter like me…’

A total of 37 names were nominated, with the shortlist chosen by an independent panel comprising Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren; Herald editor Catherine Salmond; broadcaster Janice Forsyth; STV’s Laura Boyd; radio presenter and podcaster Aarti Joshi; Lost Glasgow’s Norry Wilson; Channel 4’s Laura Marks; and comedian/actors Sanjeev Kohli, Greg Hemphill, Elaine C Smith, and Karen Dunbar.

They also gave special commendation to comedians Laura Quinn Goh, Krystal Evans and Chris Forbes, with particular reference to his work alongside tennis coach Judy Murray.

Festival director Krista MacDonald said: ‘We are so proud that we have the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of our city shown in the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and in the name of the Big Yin. The judges have been wonderful and we are so grateful for their time and help in shortlisting the nominees - the strength of whom really prove that no one does comedy like Glasgow’

Published: 31 Mar 2023