Shetland Arts has announced the line-up for its annual stand-up comedy show on Up Helly Aa night, Stand Up Helly Aa. This year's show will be hosted by Sandy Nelson and star special guests Mark Nelson and Stuart Mitchell.
Sandy Nelson is an actor, writer and comedian from Glasgow. He put together the annual Stand Up Helly Aa with Shetland Arts six years ago and has compered all but one of them. You may know him best as Chris The Postie in BBC Scotlands Still Game or you may have seen him on the Yell Sound Ferry eating a Kit Kat (when the vending machine works.) He had the privilege of living in Baltasound on Unst for four and a half years and retains happy memories. He has now returned to his Sooth Mooth roots but is happy to be back on The Auld Rock having a gaff.
Since winning the inaugural Scottish Comedian of the Year Award in 2006, barely a year after his first-ever open-spot, Mark Nelson's mix of dark humour, cutting observations and superb one-liners have seen him firmly established as one of the UK's biggest-hitting comedy powerhouses. With likeable manner on stage belying some of the stronger content, Nelson often has audiences laughing at things they know they really shouldn't be laughing at. He is certainly not for the easily offended, yet the material is intelligent, well conceived and beautifully crafted, all supported by a very confident delivery.
Stuart Mitchell was a finalist in the New Act Of The Year competition in 2012 and was mostly recently a Best Support Act nominee in the inaugural Scottish Comedy Awards. He is quickly proving to be one of the most exciting new stand-up comedians performing across the UK. Stuart has also recently written for Mock The Week and his radio credits include Hardeep At The Stand, The Comedy Cafe and MacAulay and Co, all on BBC Radio Scotland.
Shetland Arts" Marketing Officer, Lisa Ward, said: