What makes Glasgow the funniest city in the world?

THE headliners of this y e a r ’ s G l a s g o w International Comedy Festival unpack what makes Glasgow ‘ the funniest city in the world’.

Paul Black, Susie McCabe and Marc Jennings will take the stage at the King’s Theatre in March, ushering in a new era for the festival. Susie, who last performed at the iconic theatre last year, told the Glasgow Times she was ‘ dead chuffed’ for Paul and Marc, who will both be debuting at the King’s this spring.

She said: “I’m quite jealous because your debut is something special.”

Susie explains that comedy to Glasgow is like The Beatles to Liverpool or Harry Potter to Edinburgh.

She said: “It’s something that Glasgow as a city needs to own more, that we’re the home of comedy. It’s a fantastic city, we’re some of the most hospitable people in the world and we can show the world that we are the funniest city. This should be the city of comedy.”

Comedy greats like Billy Connolly have performed to sold- out crowds at the King’s, and Susie says it’s ‘ an absolute honour’ to return and ‘ stand in their shadow and do the same thing’.

Susie, Marc and Paul agree that the best audience to perform in front of is a Glasgow one. Paul said: “I think the Glasgow audience, what sets it apart, is that most people here are funnier than your average person. They’re already part of it, they’re already enjoying the humour because they’re funny themselves and they can really laugh at themselves.”

The TikTok star admitted he was ‘ really nervous’ after seeing the size of the stage, but tickets for the newcomer’s show are almost sold out already.

His new show, Nostalgia, is all about growing up in Glasgow.

Paul said: “Everybody in my family is funny, even if they’re not trying to be funny. I think when I look at the older generations of my family, they inspire a lot of what I write and I’m always doing impressions of them.

“And that seems to really resonate with people, so I guess we’re all more similar than we realise in this city.

“I definitely think it’s something that’s been passed down for generations.”

Marc, who was crowned Scottish Comedian of the Year in 2019, is also looking forward to his first solo show at the King’s. He said: “It’s going to be the biggest audience I’ve played a solo show to before. I’m absolutely buzzing for it.”

Glasgow can be a tough crowd for comedians, but the most rewarding to win over.

Marc said: “People in Glasgow are funny so as a comedian you need to step up your game.”

Known for his viral videos and a regular gig as a panellist on BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News, Marc attributes the

Glaswegian humour r to a lack of preten pretentiousness mixed with relatability.

He said: “If someone can articulate something that you’ve maybe, vaguely thought about or you’ve noticed but never really said out loud when you hear someone say that, there’s no better feeling. “Because you go ‘ ah, that’s just like me’. “And the big Glasgow comics are masters of that.”

The Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2023 will bring 380 events across 37 venues to the city from March 15 to April 2.