Nicola Sturgeon to Lead Glasgow Comedy Festival Event

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is scheduled to lead an event at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival next year. She will appear alongside crime writer Val McDermid for an evening titled “Books & Banter,” taking place on March 22 at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. The pair has previously conducted multiple “in conversation with” sessions nationwide, where they explored their mutual interest in literature. The festival lineup also features other performers such as Frankie Boyle, Susie McCabe, and Christopher MacArthur-Boyd, who will present a live adaptation of their podcast, “Here Comes the Guillotine.” Additionally, award-winning comedian Russell Kane and “Scot Squad” actor Darren Connell are slated to perform. Before the main festival, Sturgeon and McDermid are set to present a holiday-themed performance at Edinburgh’s Assembly Hall on December 5. For both this event and the festival show, they will be accompanied by two invited guests. Sturgeon held the position of Scotland’s first minister for a period of nine years, from 2014 to 2023. In a joint statement, the two commented: “Our love of books is what first drew us together and it remains the mainstay of that friendship. “We’ll be interrogating our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love reading. Revelations galore await as we explore the love and laughter between the covers.” Approximately 175 performances have been confirmed for the festival, which is scheduled to take place from March 12 to March 30 next year. Festival Director Krista MacDonald stated: “We’re looking forward to celebrating Glasgow as the funniest city in the world, as hundreds of comedians and performers set out to entertain audiences in venues all across the city.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.