Christmas show scoops the first McTavish Award

Chris Forbes has won the first McTavish Award for the best Scottish comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

He won for his show Father Christmas, described as ‘a heartfelt exploration of festive joy, family and the Christmas Day that changed everything.’

The prize is given in memory of comedian Vladimir McTavish – real name Paul Sneddon – who died at the start of last month. It  comes with a £2,500 prize and other benefits.

Also shortlisted were Kim Blythe for Puzzle, Larry Dean for Hellbent and Amy Matthews for Definitions of Toast. 

Mike Jones, managing director of The Stand comedy club where Sneddon was also a director said all four show ‘are fantastic examples of just how accomplished the scene is.’

Organisers say the fact that no Scottish-based act has been included in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards shortlists 'for the tenth year running' validates the need for the accolade. However, Dean was nominated in 2022, although he was living in London by that time.

The award was handed out at The List Awards, where Conk’s show Man Sings the Same Song Over and Over Again for an Hour was named best comedy.

And Megasquirt: Fully Loaded, an experimental comedy music project from Brooklyn, was named best LGBTQIA+ Show.

• Chrissy Derbyshire won the UK Pun Off joke of the fringe title, run by the festival show of the same name. Her winning gag was: ‘Did you hear about the new collaboration Sade did with Gilbert and Sullivan? It's a smooth operetta.’

Published: 28 Aug 2026