He’s one of the world’s top stand up comedians, and this ninety minute documentary celebrates Sir Billy Connolly’s extraordinary journey from a tough Glasgow childhood to global superstardom. During his highly successful career he’s given countless interviews, and the programme meticulously pieces together Billy’s story as told in his own inimitable style.

 

Connolly rose to national prominence in Britain in 1975 after telling a particularly memorable joke on the Parkinson talk show, following years of working as a welder in the Clyde’s shipyards and then a short stint as a folk singer. From then on his rise seemed unstoppable, ultimately taking in ambitious world tours, acting in movies and on television, making documentaries, writing, musical performance and visual art. The programme uses evocative period archive to illustrate Connolly’s story and features material never seen previously on British television. Shappi Khorsandi narrates.

 

Produced for Channel 5