Billy Connolly

[KeithDavies 100]

I've long held a huge amount of respect and affection for Billy Connolly. Sadly, his Parkinsons - he's 10 years in, now - means he no longer performs. I just came across this interview, done via his wife Pamela. Thought I'd share it in case others don't happen across it.

Billy Connolly’s most intimate interview yet (by his wife): ‘Comedians never used to worry about what was correct to say. You said it, and soon found out’

Only one person can get to the heart of who the Big Yin is – his partner and carer, psychotherapist Pamela Stephenson Connolly. He talks about how Parkinson’s has changed him, what he misses from being on tour, and living in a hotbed of Trump supporters in Florida

www.theguardian.com

 

[Teleskopic]

It’s a great interview, you get a sense of how strong their relationship is. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much thanks to some of the Big Yin’s best shows.

 

[WingedWords]

Yes, I read that earlier this morning. Lovely.

I always found his comedy a bit OTT for my taste, but I'm a huge admirer of the documentaries, both travel and personal, that he's been doing in more recent years. (Also he's a fine ambassador for the banjo!) His attitude to his health problems and aging in general has been enormously helpful to me. I've learnt to accept what I can't do anymore and enjoy every bit of what I can do.

I love his pictures too.

About Billy Connolly | Castle Fine Art

Shop the award-winning comedian's Born On A Rainy Day collection, including hand-signed limited edition prints and a sculpture. Available at Castle Fine Art.

www.castlefineart.com

Thanks Billy.

 

[Weazel]

His comedy aside (which I like a lot), I think he was brilliant in 'Mrs Brown'

 

[Cloodie]

His 1985 show 'An Audience with Billy Connolly' is still one of the funniest things I've seen in my life.

 

[hemingway]

My mum used to play me his albums when I was a kid. Great stuff.

"I needed somewhere tae park ma bike."

"It's amazin' the surge o' strength ya get when you bite yer ain wullie."

Etched into my soul.

 

[richiek65]

I must have watched these 2 shows 20 times and they still brings me to tears

 

[Kandinskyesque]

Thanks for the link @KeithDavies 100, I must have missed the story on my morning Grauniad read. I look forward to pouring over that interview several times throughout this weekend.

He's probably my favourite person on the planet.
From single digit childhood to now, I've been absorbing his material and his philosophy on life as if he were an anarchic uncle. He's shaped and reflected a lot of my view on life and all its absurdities.

I highly recommend his "Windswept and Interesting" autobiography, (in audio because he reads it). A bit like Craig Fergusson's book for me in as far as being able to picture exactly where he was describing throughout the book; Billy was at the same year at school as my mother (St Gerards in Govan) and my early life was near where he grew up.
I also learned in the book that he was Mark Knopfler's milk-boy.

One of my life's ambitions would be to spend an hour with the man. I doubt that will happen now but I live in hope.
Ironically, two very influential people in my life have been close friends of his. My 12-step sponsor (who passed this year) was a close friend, and Billy endorsed his book.
An older friend, who got me started on the guitar (among other things) has been around Billy over these recent years and has painted his portraits a few times.

 

[KeithDavies 100]

Thanks for the link @KeithDavies 100, I must have missed the story on my morning Grauniad read. I look forward to pouring over that interview several times throughout this weekend.

He's probably my favourite person on the planet.
From single digit childhood to now, I've been absorbing his material and his philosophy on life as if he were an anarchic uncle. He's shaped and reflected a lot of my view on life and all its absurdities.

I highly recommend his "Windswept and Interesting" autobiography, (in audio because he reads it). A bit like Craig Fergusson's book for me in as far as being able to picture exactly where he was describing throughout the book; Billy was at the same year at school as my mother (St Gerards in Govan) and my early life was near where he grew up.
I also learned in the book that he was Mark Knopfler's milk-boy.

One of my life's ambitions would be to spend an hour with the man. I doubt that will happen now but I live in hope.
Ironically, two very influential people in my life have been close friends of his. My 12-step sponsor (who passed this year) was a close friend, and Billy endorsed his book.
An older friend, who got me started on the guitar (among other things) has been around Billy over these recent years and has painted his portraits a few times.

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I had you in mind, as much as anyone, when I posted. Glad it reached you, given you missed it. I could imagine you would feel the same connection to him that I do. Never met him, and I'm sure now never will, but he seems to be really the loveliest guy. I used to watch his travel programmes and they'd make me laugh and cry in equal measure.

My wife's from Cameroon and can barely understand a word he says, and yet still ends up in fits of giggles whenever we watch him!

 

[Kandinskyesque]

My wife's from Cameroon and can barely understand a word he says, and yet still ends up in fits of giggles whenever we watch him!

Unfortunately, mine is from Cumbernauld and claims that my 'effoffs' are carbon copy of Billy's in tone, timbre and frequency.

He was banned from our devout house in the early 70s, but that didn't stop me from clandestine listenings to his albums round at friend's houses.
In fact, listening to Billy would be my first clandestine activity long before I found my first copy of Mayfair in the bushes and hid it under my pile of Marvell comics.

 

[stxrus]

I did not know of the Parkinsons. That’s sad.

I am a fan of his comedy.

I’ll get to the interview later. Thanks for sharing

 

[Crafty Fox]

My wife's from Cameroon and can barely understand a word he says, and yet still ends up in fits of giggles whenever we watch him!

My wife is Chinese and doesn't even understand me that well........although I do have the same accent as Billy Connolly.
I don't think anyone has ever made me laugh as much as BC.