Scottish comedian Rosco McClelland wins Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award
By Lucinda Cameron, PA Scotland
Comedian Rosco McLelland has said it feels “incredible” to have won a comedy award chosen by Billy Connolly.
McLelland picked up the Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at Glasgow International Comedy Festival’s (GICF) Comedy Gala on Sunday.
Mr Connolly sent a personalised video message from his home in Florida to announce the winner, making reference to one of McLelland’s jokes about slugs.
He said: “Congratulations to Rosco McClelland – the slug nudger! Well done – I had a good laugh at your thing about the slugs in the bin.
“I wish you all the very best, I hope your career goes bouncing from strength to strength and that the Glasgow humour goes bounding from strength to strength, as it will. Congratulations.”
The award is the only one given by GICF, and previous winners are Susie McCabe (2024) and the late Janey Godley (2023).
Created in 2023 in honour of Mr Connelly, the award aims to reward an individual who most personifies the “Spirit of Glasgow”.
McClelland said: “Thank you so much – to join the list of people who have won, Janey and Susie, is incredible.
“To know that the Big Yin has seen me do my silly wee bits ostand-upup is insane, that’s the real prize in this. Just to hear him say my name, I can’t believe this, he’s the best to ever do it.
“Thank you to my family, everybody at Glasgow International Comedy Festival, and my agents. To everybody else who was nominated – they’re fantastic comedians and fantastic people.”
A panel of judges from the fields of culture and media drew up the shortlist and sent their thoughts to Mr Connolly, who made the final decision on the winner.
The others on this year’s seven-strong shortlist were Craig Hill, Kim Blythe, Marjolein Robertson, Paul Black, Scott Agnew and Viv Gee.
Festival director Krista MacDonald said: “Rosco McClelland is one of Scotland’s brightest comedic voices and has been entertaining audiences for over a decade with his unique look at the absurdities of everyday life.
“After being nominated for awards like Best Newcomer back in 2015, to see a homegrown Glaswegian talent like Rosco be honoured with 2025’s Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award is a real testament to his hard work and commitment to his craft.
“Rosco embodies all that is exceptional about Glasgow and its comedy scene; a bold and brave brand of comedy, an unparalleled resilience and warmth and, above all else, an unfailing desire to make people laugh.
“Billy Connolly is a comic who has shaped and defined Glasgow’s cultural identity, and reflected the very best of this city back to audiences around the world. To have the Big Yin involved in the Festival in this way and for us to distribute an award in his name is a real honour.
“The GICF team send our warmest congratulations to Rosco as the winner of the third ever Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, as well as this year’s outstanding shortlist, who are all a shining representation of the strength of Scottish comedy.”