New initiative from the city's comedy festival

Glasgow is looking for its funniest bus pass holder.

The city’s comedy festival is running a free four-week comedy course for pensioners, taught by stand-up Viv Gee, ahead of a showcase on April 1, Live Comedy Day.

It comes after research by Age Scotland found that around one in ten older people in Scotland experience chronic loneliness, while 36 per cent of over-50s say they don't get to do activities they enjoy as much as they would like.

Comedy-curious pensioners can nominate themselves, or friends and family can put forward an older person they think has the banter for the stage. Applications close on February 23.

Up to 16 participants will be guided through writing material, building confidence and performing live. Gee,  pictured, who is a lecturer in stand-up comedy at the University of Strathclyde, already runs an introduction to comedy course at the festival.

Ben McLeod, general manager at The Social Hub Glasgow, which is hosting the course, said: 'For me, Glasgow is the funniest city in the world, and that's not just because of its great comedians, but because of the day-to-day interactions in cafés, at bus stops and on the street.

'We're all about opening doors, giving people new opportunities and bringing people together. I think we might just unearth a hidden gem.'

Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, added: 'Older people have a wealth of stories and life experience to draw on, but they are often underrepresented on comedy stages. We also know that opportunities for creativity and social connection can be harder to come by in later life.'

The comedy course will run every Monday at 10am from March 9 for four weeks at The Social Hub. Travel expenses will be covered. People wanting to take part should email glasgowcomedycourse@wearestoryshop.com stating their name, age and a sentence explaining why they want to take part. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Glasgow International Comedy Festival runs from March 11-29 with international names including Rosie O'Donnell and Ruby Wax joining UK comics such as Daniel Sloss, Alan Davies, Sue Perkins and Tom Davis.

Published: 16 Feb 2026