Glasgow International Comedy Festival announces judging panel for Sir Billy Connolly award and first Gala line up

Glasgow International Comedy Festival have revealed 2025's judging panel for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, plus announced the first names for this year's Comedy Gala!

Article Source: Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Last Updated: 12 February 2025 9:28

With only one month to go until Scotland’s largest comedy festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) have today revealed 2025’s judging panel for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, plus announced the first names for this year’s Comedy Gala, where the award winner will be announced live on stage. This year’s judges include Alan Cumming, Greg Hemphill, Cassi Gillespie, Sanjeev Kohli and more, whilst the Gala line-up will feature Susie McCabe, Kim Blythe, Ayo Adenekan and more.

Tickets for GICF Comedy Gala on Sunday 30th March available now via www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com

GICF’s Comedy Gala will see Scotland’s top comedians gather at the King’s Theatre on the final day of the festival at 2pm on Sunday 30th March, with a mixed bill line-up showcasing rising stars alongside legends of the scene, before unveiling the winner of the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award. The Gala will spotlight the very best of the fest, with a special set from last year’s winner of the award, Susie McCabe.

2025’s judging panel will review this year’s applications and curate a shortlist for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, making a recommendation to Sir Billy Connolly himself, who will ultimately choose the final winner.

Applications were submitted from GICF acts, venues and promoters, now set to be whittled down to a shortlist of only six by the judges, with the shortlist set to be announced in the opening days of the festival.

The judging panel includes a range of personalities from across Scotland’s creative industries including: Emmy award winning actor, author and Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre Alan Cumming; Clyde 1 radio presenter and DJ Cassi Gilespie; co-creator of one of Scotland’s most successful sitcoms, Still Game, Greg Hemphill; entertainment journalist Laura Boyd; actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli and 2024’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award winner Susie McCabe.

Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren also joins the judging panel alongside: Aarti Joshi (Go Radio), Gregor Kyle (The Herald), Laura Marks (Channel 4) and Norry Wilson (Lost Glasgow).

Alan Cumming said: “I'm thrilled to be part of the judging panel for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award this year. Comedy is such an integral part of Scotland's cultural identity, and the Big Yin made sure we always punched above our weight in that respect - one of many ways he continues to influence us all to this very day. Good luck to this year's applicants!”

Greg Hemphill said: “I cannot wait to help judge this year’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award. Glasgow is an ever changing city and amazing new and unique comic voices are forever popping up like dandelions with their own takes on life. I am excited to see what’s out there!”

The award recognises a person, not a show, meaning any GICF performers, venue staff, promoters or anyone otherwise involved in this year’s festival can apply. Applicants do not have to be from Glasgow or live in Glasgow, but instead must embody the Spirit of Glasgow as defined by the award criteria.

On the festival’s final day, this year’s Spirit of Glasgow Shortlist will be celebrated alongside the very best of the fest, with the King’s Theatre audience treated to an afternoon of the finest stand-up. Rising star Kim Blythe is set to perform at GICF’s Comedy Gala for the first time, following her two sold out shows in the festival and a growing following on social media with viral videos aplenty. Plus, 2024 So You Think You’re Funny alumni including winner Alana Jackson and runner up Ayo Adenekan, as well as hip-hop comedian MC Hammersmith who will entertain the crowd with his freestyle rap comedy. 2024’s Spirit of Glasgow winner Susie McCabe will close out proceedings with a special stand-up set, before presenting the award to 2025’s winner.

With just 4 weeks to go until GICF takes over the city with over 550 shows, there’s something for everyone from 12th - 30th March, with headline performances from the likes of Larry Dean, Fern Brady, Jenny Eclair, Russell Kane, Paul Black and some of comedy’s brightest rising stars including Gearóid Farrelly, Alana Jackson, Dee Allum, Connor Burns and more.

Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “We are honoured to once again be working with Sir Billy Connolly for the third year in a row to present GICF’s only award - the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award. Our city is renowned for its unique sense of humour and each year, the calibre of award applications shows us why Glasgow’s comedy scene consistently produces some of the world’s very best comedians. It’s going to be a difficult job for this year’s judges, but we’re looking forward to revealing 2025’s winner live on stage at the GICF Comedy Gala in front of a packed King’s Theatre.”

The 2025 festival will feature shows across every genre of comedy from traditional stand-up, live podcasts, clowning, improv, theatre, kids shows, musicals and more, with shows for all age ranges hosted in venues across the city.

2025 festival tickets are on sale via www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com

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