Rosco McClelland picks up Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award
The presentation wrapped up the final day of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival
The Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) has wrapped up for another year, after the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award was presented at the King’s Theatre on Sunday afternoon.
Rosco McClelland was presented the award by last year’s winner, Susie McCabe, before a touching video message from the Big Yin himself was played.
Rosco was one of seven comedians shortlisted for the only award handed out by the GICF, joined by Craig Hill, Marjolein Robertson, Paul Black, Viv Gee, Kim Blythe, and Scott Agnew.
He joins previous winners Susie McCabe and Janey Godley as the third person to take the honour.
Sir Billy Connolly said in his message to Rosco: ““Congratulations to Rosco McClelland - the slug nudger!
"I hope your career goes bouncing from strength to strength"
“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.”
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Rosco said he couldn’t believe Connolly had seen his work.
He said: “I hadn’t thought about it or anything, I just knew I needed to be here today, and then to hear my name get called out and then go up.
“Just to know that Billy’s seen my stand-up, is insane to me.
"I never though that something like this would happen"
“I never thought that something like that would happen when I started out 10 years ago.”
He added he had decided to keep going in for the award every year until he got it, winning his third time lucky.
He said: “I didn’t want to wallow in not winning it last year, I said I’ll enter it every year until I get it, so now I don’t really know what to do next year, just got to do a show, I guess.
“To join Susie and Janey on that list is just incredible.”
"One of Scotland's brightest comedic voices"
Festival Director Krista MacDonald, 2024 winner Susie McCabe and comedy icon Elaine C Smith presented with the award - a glass trophy etched with Sir Billy Connolly’s famous self-portrait, following a hilarious closing set from Susie McCabe.
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 Sir 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.”
"Rosco embodies all that is exceptional about Glasgow"
Previously announcing Janey Godley as the inaugural winner in March 2023, Sir Billy Connolly said: “Glasgow deserves to have an international comedy festival - it’s the funniest town in the world, bar none.
“The standard is colossal and I’m always amazed when I see TV or live comedy from Glasgow.
“I’m very proud to be part of the international festival and I’m very proud that my drawing has been part of the trophy.”
A panel of judges from across Scotland’s cultural sphere met to collate the seven-strong Shortlist, before sending a recommendation to Sir Billy Connolly who made the final decision for this year’s winner.