Billy Connolly has been entertaining us for over 50 years with his unique brand of humour. His irreverent humour has often offended the virtuous but to most, he has been a f****** marvellous entertainer! As well as his standup comedy shows, he has beguiled us with his TV travelogues. Now he has turned his hand to writing a book “Tall Tales and wee stories”. It has been a romping success, and the paperback version is now topping the book charts.

In the bleak winter and the ongoing Covid worries, his book is a great distraction. You can delve in and out to pick up a new wee story, and laugh your worries away. There is no doubt he is a marvellous raconteur. I recall seeing him at a show in Cornwall 40+ years ago. The belly laughs were continuous, and at the end of the show, my stomach was sore with all the laughing.

Typical of his Scottish witticisms is his description of Scottish people. “I’m not a white person. I’m f****** pale blue. It takes me a week of sunbathing to turn white. And the Irish tend to be pink, I find. They run to the pinkish. We’re more your powder blue.”

It is with great sadness that the comedian is suffering from Parkinson’s and prostate cancer. Although there are no live shows any more, at least we have a written record of some of his great stories. Enjoy him while you can!

More about Billy Connolly

Sir William Connolly, CBE (born 24 November 1942) is a retired Scottish stand-up comedian, musician, presenter, actor, and artist. He is sometimes known, especially in his homeland, by the Scots nickname The Big Yin (“The Big One”). Connolly is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential stand-up comedians of all time, having topped multiple polls conducted in the United Kingdom. In the 1990s he made two documentary series for the BBC, about Scotland and Australia respectively, and in 1997 he starred in the award-winning film Mrs Brown (1997). 

A Great Concert to enjoy Billy Connolly live!