Vladimir McTavish

Career His stand-up career started with shows he promoted himself, the first being in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1994, he won the Strathmore Water Comedy Award; however, he did not receive the trophy until 2020. In 2015, he won the Scottish Comedy Awards Best Fringe Show, was nominated for a Comedy Award at Fringe World, Perth, Australia, and was a former BAFTA nominee. He featured on BBC Scotland's Comedy Underground, Gary: Tank Commander and Scot Squad, and also appeared on Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights and the BBC's Live Floor Show. He was awarded the Scottish Comedy Award Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. and repeated this in 2025 with a show called "The Last Chance Saloon".

Personal life and death McTavish was married to Christine and had two daughters, Julia and Rosie. He had been due to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2026 with a show reflecting on his cancer treatment. Comedians including Frankie Boyle, Tom Stade, Susan Calman, Greg McHugh and Phil Ellis paid tribute to him after his death. On 15 July 2026, The Stand Comedy Club, in partnership with The List and The Comedy Unit, announced the McTavish Award established in Sneddon's memory, to be presented at The List Festival Awards during Edinburgh Fringe season and intended to "celebrate the talent and creativity of the Scottish comedy scene".