Glasgow Times Editor Callum Baird said: “We are sad to have to postpone SWOTY but the health and wellbeing of our finalists, their families and friends and all of our guests is our main priority.

“We will be back later in the year to celebrate in style and to pay tribute to our fantastic SWOTY and YoungSWOTY contenders.”

Scotswoman of the Year, held in association with St Enoch Centre and supported by Grand Central Hotel, Scottish Passenger Agents Association, Mackay & Inglis and Jones Whyte LLP, has been a firm favourite on the city calendar since 1963.

In 2018, to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Young People, we introduced a Young Scotswoman of the Year award for 12 to 21-year-olds.

This year’s finalists for Young SWOTY are courageous fundraiser Molly Cuddihy, groundbreaking app designers Mari-Ann Ganson and Ellora James, mental health champion Corrie Shepherd, equal rights campaigner Razannah Hussain and climate change activist Holly Gillibrand.

The six SWOTY contenders for 2019 are homelessness activist Zakia Moulaoui, autism champion Vicki McCarthy, children’s fitness visionary Elaine Wyllie, inspirational fundraiser Corinne Hutton, suicide support charity founder Pauline Moriarty and world-leading infertility researcher Dr Sarah Martins Da Silva.

Anne Ledgerwood, general manager of St. Enoch Centre, said: “We fully understand and support the decision to postpone Scotswoman of the Year during these uncertain times.

“I and my fellow judges remain committed to honouring the women who make up our renowned shortlist and look forward to celebrating their achievements and contributions later in the year.

“These women are an example to us all and I’m sure their inspirational work will be more important than ever in the weeks ahead.”