Baby Reindeer catapults comic to global fame

Richard Gadd has been named the most significant cultural figure in Scotland this year.

The comedian has topped The List’s annual list of the 100 ‘genre-bending, mind-expanding creatives who have helped shape the cultural face of our nation’ over the past 12 months. 

In an article about his success, the website said Baby Reindeer ‘made the Fife-born comedian a household name overnight, catapulting him to a level of fame that is as exposing as it is validating.’

He told them: ‘I really believed in Baby Reindeer and thought it would create a lot of debate and public interest. I anticipated it would be a success. But to this level? No chance

‘I never thought for a second about Emmy wins and 240 million views since its release, or being number one in 80 countries around the globe.’

Gadd was followed on the list by Glasgow-born artist Jasleen Kaur, who has just been nominated for the Turner Prize; Slow Horses star Jack Lowden and Tamara Schlesinger, who founded Hen Hoose, an initiative to support Scottish female songwriters.

The next highest ranking comedian is Susie McCabe, who also won the Billy Connolly Award at this year’s Glasgow Comedy Festival, at No 9. At at No 10 came actor and writer Gary McNair for work including his love letter to the Big Yin, Dear Billy.

The top 10 comedians according to the List are

1. Richard Gadd (No 1 overall)

2. Susie McCabe (9)

3. Ashley Storrie (13)
Who made the BBC sitcom Dinosaur and hosts  late-night BBC Radio Scotland show with sidekick Silent Paul

4. Ray Bradshaw (23)
Host of BBC Radio Scotland’s Off The Ball and touring stand-up

5. Armando Iannucci (26)
Executive producer of TV comedy The Franchise who adapted Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove  for the stage,

6. Fern Brady (34)
Brady, who was No2 overall last year, released her first Netflix special, Autistic Beauty Queen, and won the Nero Award for non-fiction with her memoir Strong Female Character.

7. Larry Dean (38)
For his Edinburgh Fringe show and tour Dodger and his feature film debut in This Time Next Yea

8. Amy Matthews (40)
With her third show, Commute With The Foxes described as a  'hugely insightful and exquisitely penned comedy’. 

9. Robert Florence & Ryan Macleod (43)
For their long-running gaming show Consolevania, revitalised as CVXX as it turned 20

10. Marjolein Robertson (49)
No 3on the overall list  last year, she debuted the ‘deeply personal’ storytelling hour O at the 2024 Fringe

They were followed by stand-ups Rosco McClelland at No 55 and Stuart McPherson  at No 59.

Published: 29 Nov 2024