CO ME DY Limmy
GARY MEIKLE
JANEY GODLEY
LIMMY
Discovering that a third of his social media audience is from the US has opened up new avenues for the Glasgow comic who played his iBrow Guy show this year in venues such as the Usher Hall and Royal Concert Hall. (BD)
The undisputed ‘godmother of Scottish comedy’, Janey Godley beat stand-up giants Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges (as well as her rising-star daughter Ashley Storrie) to win the main comedy prize at The Herald’s Scottish Culture Awards. She also embarked on her Soup Pot tour across Scotland before it heads down south early next year. (BD)
The Glaswegian’s raw and uncompromising autobiography, in which he discussed his mental-health battles candidly, flew off the shelves. Who’d have thought Truck Simulator could be used for comedic purposes? Streaming karaoke duets on Twitch? No one does daft like this national treasure. (CA)
SUSIE MCCABE
PHOTO: PAUL CHAPPELLS
A big year for the Glasgow stand-up as she signed to one of the heavyweight UK comedy agents, scooped two prizes at the Scottish Comedy Awards, and gained plenty plaudits for her latest Fringe show, Domestic Disaster. (BD)
AMY MATTHEWS On the back of being named Best Newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards, Amy Matthews laid on a 30-minute taster of her observational whimsy at Monkey Barrel in August, swifty proving she’s one to watch in the coming years. (BD)
STEPHEN BUCHANAN Enjoying the past 12 months as the Scottish Comedian of the Year has lifted this Glasgow comic above the competition, and he made a solid Pleasance Courtyard Fringe debut with Baby Dove, the funny and moving story of his mum offering space in their home to a Vietnamese refugee. (BD)
ASHLEY STORRIE Ashley Storrie’s ascent into the pantheon of Scottish comedy continues apace. This year’s Fringe show, Hysterical, demonstrated a burgeoning maturity as the comedian tackled depression and the crippling apathy she battled before finding her calling as one of the country’s most promising stand-ups. (MR)
24 THE LIST 1 Nov 2019–31 Jan 2020
STILL GAME Craiglang’s most popular residents said their final goodbye to audiences with a stint at The Hydro after 17 years of hilarious Scottish banter. One of Scotland’s greatest comedies came to an end but, as Victor (Greg Hemphill) himself would say, ‘that’s plenty, Jack’. (SM)