Susie McCabe wins the Sir Billy Connolly Award

For encapsulating the spirit of Glasgow

Susie McCabe has won the second Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, it was announced at the city’s comedy festival.

The news was broken at a gala show at the King’s Theatre today, with the Big Yin sending a message to congratulate his fellow comic.

In it, he said: ‘Congratulations Susie - I'm sorry I can't be in Glasgow, it's for a million reasons.

‘I watched you on TV and I was blown sideways. It's been lovely watching your style, that Glasgow style of comedy, it's brilliant. I loved it. You're brilliant so keep it up!’

Accepting the award on stage, McCabe said: ‘When you start this career as a dare you don’t think for a minute you’re going to hear your name come out of Billy Connolly’s face.

‘Lots of people talk about Edinburgh and its festivals in comedy - it’s never been about Edinburgh for me, Edinburgh is a by-product of this festival for me.

‘This festival has 100 per cent backed me and it’s done that because you, the audiences, have come out and let me play this theatre three times. Thank you to Glasgow for being the wind in my sails. This means the absolute world to me - this city means the absolute world to me.’

Mccabe on stage with award

She follows in the footsteps of last year’s inaugural winner, Janey Godley, who handed over the trophy alongside Elaine C Smith.

Also nominated for the award were Craig Hill, Raymond Mearns, Rosco McClelland, Susan Riddell and Zara Gladman.

Festival director Krista MacDonald said: ‘Susie McCabe is one of Scotland's most exceptional comedy exports, having entertained audiences in her hometown and beyond for over 15 years.

‘From her very first show with GICF in 2013 in a 60-seater to three mammoth shows in the King's Theatre this year, Susie epitomises everything good about Glasgow and its comedy scene; she has generosity of spirit in spades and is unapologetic in her comedy, but manages to still be warm, inclusive, hard-working, gallus and to her very core, funny.

‘Sir Billy Connolly has helped both audiences and comics find joy and laughter even when times are bleak, representing the very best of comedy itself and the very best of this city- so we are so honoured to have the Big Yin himself involved in the Festival in this way.’

The award aims to recognise those who represent the same qualities Sir Billy displays: resilience, openness, being gallus (bold and cheeky); and funny .

The shortlist was drawn up by a panel of judges who made a recommendation to Sir Billy to ultimately choose the winner.

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Published: 30 Mar 2024