‘Funny, angry, and misanthropic’ is how Rosco McClelland describes his new stand-up show, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?. The 2025 Sir Billy Connolly Spirit Of Glasgow Award winner is returning with the final part of what he sees as a comedy trilogy.

McClelland’s big award win has cemented the Glaswegian comic’s confidence for this year’s Fringe (presumably as did his ranking of number 55 on The List Hot 100 back in December). ‘Being told you’re funny by the best to ever do it is a huge honour. It’s important for me to be my own harshest critic, but I gave myself a bit of slack after that one!’

With his quick, chaotic and even erratic comedic flare, it’s no surprise that McClelland uses adrenaline to stir up new material. ‘I tend to do a lot of writing when I’m driving to/from a show because the anticipation seems to make my brain fire into gear,’ he explains. ‘If I remember it, then it’s good enough, and if I don’t, then it isn’t worth saying.’

McClelland’s scream of a show last year, Sudden Death, went deep into his heart condition and how ‘living on borrowed time’ has influenced his perspective on life. And true to the comic’s edgy and intense character, we can expect similar dark themes with his new material. ‘There’s going to be some more serious themes... “under the surface” is a good choice of words for something I’ll be talking about,’ he hints cryptically.

Rosco McClelland: How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Monkey Barrel Cabaret Voltaire, 30 July–24 August, 8.05pm; main picture: Nick Gibb.