For a show or performer at the city's international comedy festival

The Glasgow International Comedy Festival has announced the judging panel for the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award.

Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, The Herald Editor Catherine Salmond and Elaine C Smith are among the 11 judges who will shortlist nominations and make recommendations to Sir Billy Connolly, who will then have the final say on the first winner of the handed out in award in his name

The full list of judges is:

• Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren
• Catherine Salmond, Editor, The Herald
• Janice Forsyth, Broadcaster
• Laura Boyd, STV
• Cassi Gillespie, Clyde One
• Aarti Joshi, Podcaster
• Norry Wilson, Lost Glasgow
• Sanjeev Kohli, Actor & Comedian
• Greg Hemphill, Actor & Comedian
• Elaine C Smith, Actor & Comedian
• Karen Dunbar, Actor & Comedian
• Laura Marks, Commissioner at Channel 4

Nominations are now open and can be made by registered participants of the 2023 festival, with nominations closing on Wednesday March 22.The eventual winner will be the show, individual or group that most personifies the spirit of Glasgow and will be announced at the estival's closing gala at the King’s Theatre on Sunday April 2.

Sir Billy Connolly said about the award: ‘Glasgow defies description. Many great men and women have tried to describe its spirit and failed miserably. What do you say about a town that dances, sings, plays and jokes differently from everybody else? The winner of this award will have to be a nutter like me…"'

Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: ‘We are proud to have brought together a panel that represents the real diversity of the people of Glasgow, and who will be tasked with shortlisting and making the final recommendations to Sir Billy - who will make the final decision.

‘There is no one that personifies Glasgow more than Sir Billy Connolly, and we hope that this award allows us the opportunity to showcase the very best of the people that help make Glasgow the funniest city in the world.’

The award was conceived by Karen Koren, of the festival and the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh.

She said: ‘We hope the award will add to the celebration and really shine a light on some of the incredible hard work by acts and individuals within the comedy industry.’

Published: 14 Feb 2023