Nicola Sturgeon to headline Glasgow Comedy Festival show

Nicola Sturgeon will join crime author Val McDermid for the comedy festival show.

PA Media Nicola Sturgeon sits in a red chair and laughs. She is wearing a white blouse with black dots, and there is a jar of water on the table in front of her. — Nicola Sturgeon will join crime author Val McDermid for the comedy festival show.

Nicola Sturgeon will headline a show at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival next year.

The former First Minister will be joined by crime author Val McDiarmid for an evening of Books and Jokes on March 22 at the city’s Theater Royal.

The duo have previously held a number of ‘in conversation’ events across the country discussing their shared passion for literature.

Other festival performers include Frankie Boyle, Susie McCabe and Christopher McArthur-Boyd bring a live version of their podcast Here Comes the Guillotine to the stage, award-winning comedian Russell Kane and Scottish team star Darren Connell.

On the eve of the festival, Sturgeon and McDiarmid will perform a festive show at Edinburgh’s Assembly Hall on December 5th.

In both cases they will be joined by two guests.

Sturgeon served as First Minister of Scotland for nine years from 2014 to 2023.

Val McDermid had several conversations with Nicola Sturgeon.

Val McDiarmid sits on the sofa. She has gray hair, a red T-shirt and a dark sweatshirt or jacket. — Val McDermid had several conversations with Nicola Sturgeon.

In a statement, the duo said: “Our love of books is what first brought us together, and it remains the core of this friendship.

“We’ll be asking our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love to read. Revelations abound as we explore love and laughter between the covers.”

Around 175 shows have been confirmed for the festival, which runs from March 12 to 30 next year.

Festival director Christa McDonald said: “We look forward to celebrating Glasgow as the funniest city in the world as hundreds of comedians and performers line up to entertain audiences at venues across the city.”