Billy Connolly

Craig Ferguson

Billy Connolly and Craig Ferguson, two of Scotland's best known comedians internationally

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Comedy in Scotland is described as "cheeky rather than edgy", largely in part due to its use of language and innuendos. ^[1] The country has produced a number of comedians who have gathered an international audience, as well as a number of highly successful comedy television series, such as Still Game, Two Doors Down, Chewin' the Fat, Scot Squad and Gary: Tank Commander. Shows such as Still Game and ScotSquad are only shown on television channels, such as BBC Scotland, past the watershed due to its content of comedy. Liam Smillie of Glasgow World argues that "Scotland has got to be one of the funniest countries in the world, and there’s no funnier city in the country than Glasgow". ^[2]

Celtic Life claim that the ability of Scottish people to "laugh at themselves make them irresistible". ^[3] As a result, many Scottish comedians, such as, Billy Connolly, gained an international audience during the 1960s–1970s, often sharing jokes in Scots with a sense of crudeness and mockery of Scotland and Scottish culture. He is considered by Celtic Life as the "king of Scottish comedy", and was considered one of the most popular comedians internationally during his career. ^[4] Similarly, Craig Ferguson became known in countries such as the United States, again, displaying mockery towards Scottish life. He later ventured into television hosting, where he hosted The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson between 2005 and 2014, with many satire jokes aimed at Scotland, Scottish culture and Scottish life. Ferguson brought his Late Late Show to Scotland for one week for filming. ^[5] Other comedians from Scotland – Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, Ronnie Corbett and Janey Godley – have become successful around Scotland, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe.

Comedy in Scotland

Television comedy

• Cracked
• Effingee Productions
• The Krankies
• Live Floor Show
• Naked Video
• Offside
• Tutti Frutti (1987 TV series)
• Wknd@stv
• Your Cheatin' Heart (TV series)

Television sitcoms series

• Atletico Partick
• Brotherly Love (1999 TV series)
• Burnistoun
• City Lights (1984 TV series)
• Dear Green Place
• Empty (TV series)
• Gary: Tank Commander
• Happy Hollidays
• The High Life (British TV series)
• Legit (2006 TV series)
• Mr Don & Mr George
• Para Handy - Master Mariner
• Rab C. Nesbitt
• Scot Squad
• Snoddy
• Still Game
• Two Doors Down (TV series)
• The Vital Spark

Television sketch shows

• The Karen Dunbar Show
• A Kick Up the Eighties
• Limmy's Other Stuff
• Limmy's Show
• Only an Excuse?
• Scotch and Wry
• Velvet Soup

Comedians

Stand–up comedians

Television and film comedians

Impressionists

• Ronni Ancona
• Stanley Baxter
• Rory Bremner
• Janet Brown
• Harry Gordon (entertainer)
• Jonathan Watson

See also

• Culture of Scotland
• Media of Scotland
• Television in Scotland
• Cinema of Scotland
• Scottish people

References