Amanda Dwyer ‘over the moon’ to win Billy Connolly Glasgow comedy award

Comedian Amanda Dwyer has said she is “over the moon” to have been named winner of the 2026 Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow Comedy Festival (GCF) Gala.

The 36-year-old collected her award on stage at the King’s Theatre on Sunday, following a personalised video message from Sir Billy Connolly himself.

She becomes the fourth winner of the award – which recognises the individual who most personifies the “Spirit of Glasgow” – joining previous recipients Rosco McClelland (2025), Susie McCabe (2024) and Janey Godley (2023).

Giving his video address Sir Billy said: “Hello everybody, I hope you’re enjoying the Gala.

“Comedy’s come a long way when they give you Galas. Galas were for Bearsden people.”

He went on to reference one of Dwyer’s jokes as he addressed her directly.

“I’d like to congratulate the winner, Amanda Dwyer, who is superb and knows more about bumholes than I do,” he said.

“Have a ball – enjoy yourself.”

Dwyer was visible emotional as she was handed the glass trophy – which is engraved with Sir Billy’s self portrait – by host Susie McCabe.

Speaking to the Press Association after the ceremony, Dwyer said it was “amazing” to be named this year’s winner.

“I’m absolutely over the moon, and I’m in shock, complete shock, I can’t believe it,” she said.

She also described receiving a personal message from Sir Billy himself as “the most surreal moment in my life”.

“I can’t believe he’s saying my name.

“He’s up on the screen in the King’s Theatre congratulating me on winning an award that’s in his name.

“It was just crazy. I nearly fainted I think”.

She added: “Just to think that he’s even seen me try and be funny, is unbelievable.”

Dwyer took the prize ahead of a shortlist that included five female comedians – the most women ever nominated for the award – as well as the first ever non-comic.

She said this showed “how strong the female comics that we have on the scene are”.

Dwyer is known for her ability to find humour in even the darkest of places, with her breakthrough autobiographical shows delving into the “raw, and often traumatic, realities of being a woman”.

“I think my comedy can be quite sad sometimes, like the topics I discuss are very personal things,” she explained.

“My last show was about miscarriage. I think if you were to just go and listen to a seminar or something on miscarriage, it would be quite upsetting and quite jarring.

“But I think with comedy, when you’re able to laugh and relax and enjoy the conversation, then it makes it more accessible to people, and encourages people to be more open about these things.”

She also founded Material, Girl – a monthly comedy show, and now hit podcast, with all female and non-binary line-ups at The Stand comedy club, in an effort to platform other female comics and create a welcoming space for women in comedy.

GCF director Krista MacDonald said: “Amanda Dwyer is a comic who personifies the city she comes from in every way.

“Something Glaswegians are renowned for is finding humour even in dark times, and that is something Amanda does so deftly and thoughtfully in her comedy as she tackles the raw, and often traumatic, realities of being a woman.

“Amanda’s deadpan delivery and wicked sense of humour have been making waves in the Scottish comedy scene for the past five years, and her commitment to making comedy more welcoming for new female voices is just another way in which Amanda embodies the Spirit of Glasgow.”

She added: “We send our warmest congratulations to Amanda as the fourth ever winner of the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award as well as to this year’s wonderful shortlist who all reflect the heart and humour of the Festival, and of Glasgow.

“Amanda now joins Janey, Susie and Rosco in this prestigious list of winners who represent our city in the very best, and funniest, way they can.”