The judging panel for this year's Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award has been revealed.
The award, which Janey Godley won last year, aims to celebrate Glasgow and the city's warmth, resilience and above all sense of humour.
The award is given by the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF), with the winner announced at the Festival’s Comedy Gala event.
This years panel includes some of Scotland’s biggest on-screen stars, comedians, journalists and famed Glaswegians including BAFTA Scotland winner and Barbie star Sharon Rooney, Tony Curran (2022’s ‘Mayflies’) and Jonathan Watson, renowned for comedy sketch show Only An Excuse and his latest role on Two Doors Down.
Janey Godley herself will also be part of the panel.
Rooney (above) said: “As a massive comedy fan myself, I’m so excited to help judge this year’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award. Glasgow’s comedy scene is one of the best and as a proud Glaswegian it's a joy to watch it get bigger and better each year. Good luck to all of this year’s applicants.”
Curran added: “As a proud Glaswegian I’m delighted to be part of the judging panel for an award associated with Sir Billy Connolly himself, celebrating the very spirit of the city. Glasgow’s sense of humour is one of a kind and so is the Big Yin - I’m thrilled to be involved and am looking forward to plenty of laughs along the way.”
The panel will review all of the 2024 applications and will choose a shortlist, making a recommendation to Sir Billy Connolly himself, who will ultimately choose the final winner.
The judging panel will reveal the winner at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) Comedy Gala on Saturday, March 30.
Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren also joins the judging panel alongside Aarti Joshi (Go Radio), Catherine Salmond (Editor, The Herald), Cassi Gillespie (Clyde 1), Laura Boyd (STV News), Laura Marks (Channel 4) and Norry Wilson (Lost Glasgow).
Festival director Krista MacDonald said: “With the presentation of the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, GICF celebrates those participating in the festival who embody characteristics defined so well by Sir Billy Connolly, and of Glasgow itself.
"Being funny, of course, but also to be self-starting, mould-breaking, bold and brave, curious and challenging, warm but tough, proud but unpretentious and open to all.
"With the calibre of this year’s applicants, it’s going to be a tough job for our judges but we’re looking forward to revealing 2024's winner live on stage at the GICF Comedy Gala in front of such a brilliant line-up."
Karen Koren of GICF corporate director GB Festivals Ltd added: “We are honoured to be working with Sir Billy again to celebrate that which makes both comedy and Glasgow so special and can’t wait to present the winner as part of GICF’s Comedy Gala at the King’s Theatre in March.”
Taking place from March 13 to 31 2024, GICF will welcome international comedians, rising Scottish talent and the very best of live comedy to 50 venues across the city.
Some of the UK’s biggest comics will perform including Frank Skinner, Ed Gamble, and Susie McCabe.
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