New award established by The Stand to honour Paul Sneddon
The McTavish Award will be presented at this year’s The List Festival Awards in August
The Stand Comedy Club, in partnership with The List and The Comedy Unit, is launching a brand-new Edinburgh Fringe award for 2026: The McTavish Award sponsored by W Edinburgh.
The award has been established in memory of Paul Sneddon, better known under his act names Vladimir McTavish and Bob Doolally, who passed away last month. Honing his act for more than four decades, Sneddon became a firm favourite on the touring circuit, and was a major contributor to The Stand Comedy Club since its inception.
According to a press release from The Stand: ‘He was an integral part of The Stand's story and a much-loved figure within the Scottish comedy community. Beyond his achievements on stage, Paul was renowned for his kindness, generosity and unwavering support for fellow performers. He championed Scottish talent throughout his career, and The McTavish Award has been created to honour that legacy by recognising and celebrating exceptional Scottish comedians.’
The award will celebrate the talent and creativity of the Scottish comedy scene by recognising the most outstanding solo show by a Scottish or Scottish-based act at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Sponsored by W Edinburgh, the recipient of the award will receive £2,500 prize money, a Fringe run or tour at The Stand’s venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, plus development mentoring with The Comedy Unit for TV or radio.
The longlist and shortlist will be compiled by recruited volunteers and a panel made up of professionals from across the comedy industry will make the final choice which will be revealed at The List Festival Awards at W Edinburgh on Friday 28 August.
Members of the panel include Rab Christie and David Kerr of The Comedy Unit; Krista MacDonald, director of The Glasgow International Comedy Festival; Linzi Wright, programme manager at DF Concerts; Geoff Evans, director of One4review; James Macfarlane, journalist at Broadway Baby; Jay Lafferty, a comedian and the chair of The Stand Comedy Club; comedian Emmanuel Sonubi; Annie MacSorley, the marketing officer at The Stand Comedy Club and a filmmaker; comedy reviewer Jay Richardson; and The List’s resident comedy expert Murray Robertson.
Robertson says: ‘It's a huge privilege to be a judge for this new award. I must have watched Paul perform around 20 times over the years, and every performance was an absolute delight. We've lost one of the Scottish comedy scene's greatest talents, and I can think of no better tribute than to champion a new voice.’
The List Festival Awards, W Edinburgh, Friday 28 August.