POET Stuart Paterson and comedian Janey Godley were the muckle winners at the Scots Language Awards on Saturday nicht. Paterson won Writer of the year Award and Godley, famous for her skits on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's briefings, won the Scots Speaker of the Year.

Alistair Heather hostit the Awards ceremony on the event organiser’s Hands Up For Trad Facebook an YouTube channels.

Voted for by the public, the awards “gie richtfu recognition tae the mony dedicatit fowk wha in days lang syne an in oor ain times gie a muckle amoont o thirsels tae makin shair the guid Scots leid is keepit tae the fore in its cultur, music an wirds,” as the organisers put it.

Commenting on the Speaker award, Hands Up For Trad said:”She hae makit voiceowers in her ain style an leid fae a wheen o the First Meenister’s Covid briefins. Janey Godley hae gied us a guid lauch, yet wi the richt message, an she hae gied us a new catch-phrase wi ‘Frank, get the door’.

“Janey, makin an unexpectit appearance at the event, telt the audience: “I am absolutely stunned and honoured to win an award for something that I was told to be ashamed of for so long, my ain Scots tongue.”

Event foonder Simon Thoumire said: “Janey’s voiceowers aa haed an inklin o the public health briefin messages at thir hert while makin shair we cuid fin lauchter at the situation, it was sic a joy to hae her jine the Scots Language Awards audience live on the nicht, an we wir delichtit tae receive a record number o public votes for her.”

WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon and Janey Godley team up for STV Children's Appeal sketch

Deputy First Minister John Swinney statit : “The Scottish Governmint is prood tae be a sponsor o the Scots Language Awards again this year.

“We hae seen a breadth o talent cam tae the fore in the past twa year an this can anly gae fae strength tae strength while increasin the uis o Scots in iveryday life.”

Scots Writer o the Year is Paterson, whose book A Squatter o Bairnrhymes has been rapturously received. He said: “The ane muckle winner oot aw this is Scots and yon’s aye as it ocht tae be.”

The other winners were: Scots Media Person o the Year – Paul McNichol and Ronny Costello, Dode Fox Podcast, (Dundee Utd. Podcast); Scots Bairns Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government – The Itchy Coo Book o Hans Christian Andersen by various (Itchy Coo).

Young Scots Writer sponsored by Education Scotland – Ciara Dillon; Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Qualifications Authority – Claire Kerr, St Andrew’s Primary School. Scots Schuil o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo and Black & White Publishing – Banff Academy; Scots Project o the Year – Wee Windaes, National Library of Scotland; Scots Business o the Year – the Wee Book Company’; Scots Performer o the Year sponsored by Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland (TRACS) – Iona Fyfe; the Lifelang Achievement Award – Jack Stuart; Janet Paisley Services to Scots sponsored by Creative Scotland – James Robertson.