Doctor Billy's comedy tonic

Published on Friday 11 September 2009 10:57

BILLY CONNOLLY returns to the Capital next week for a six-night stint at the recently refurbished Usher Hall.

Demand for tickets when the shows were first announced at the beginning of July resulted in the Usher Hall ticketing system crashing, and already eBay touts are listing tickets at 200 each.

But does the second most famous Scot (after our very own Sir Sean Connery, of course) still think he's as relevant and funny today as he was in the 1970s and 1980s?

Well, if Connolly actually spoke to the Scottish press – a breed he likes about as much as 'beige' people – we might be able to find out. Unfortunately, there's more chance of an interview with Osama Bin Laden than cajoling a few words out of The Big Yin, which, as some would believe, has contributed to his partial dip in off-stage popularity.

And he didn't exactly endear himself to his loyal legion of Edinburgh fans two years ago when he described (albeit tongue-in-cheek) Edinburgh people as "very interesting and nice, but you wouldn't point to funny as being one of their features."

Nevertheless, whether making films, documentaries or folk-singing, it's as a stand-up that Connolly is best-loved. His observational, idiosyncratic and often off-the-cuff comedy has appealed to people of all ages and classes for more than 40 years.

Indeed, ever since that famous appearance on Parkinson back in 1975 – when Connolly explained just exactly where he parks his bicycle – the 66-year-old Glaswegian funnyman has never looked back.

"That programme changed my entire life," Connolly said, looking back on that career-changing moment.

So where does the source of Connolly's undoubted comedic genius come from, then? Why does he always wear such garish fashions – who can forget his Big Banana Feet boots? And has his performance really changed all that much since his days playing Scottish folk clubs as one-half of The Humblebums?

"It hasn't really changed much at all," revealed Connolly on an Australian TV programme. "I don't understand it very well. God knows I've tried, because I would love to create it off-stage. I find it in the most obscure places.

"When I get on stage I think about little, wee things, usually. You might see a cigarette packet or a bicycle; it might be the Toblerone that was in the refrigerator in the hotel; soap. Whatever – it just comes. So I always go unprepared on tour.

"I don't retain information very well. I can read a whole book, and enjoy it, but I can't remember a lot about it. But it's kind of helped me. I sometimes have to ask the audience what I am talking about."

And about becoming windswept and interesting? "Ever since I was 20, I wanted people to say 'that's Billy Connolly', so I tried wearing denim and cowboy boots. I never wanted to dress in the accepted mode. I was terrified I'd go through life and not be noticed. I made the Worst Dressed list once, and I was so pleased. I also won the Worst Wearer Of Jeans title."

A friend of royalty, a beloved supporter of Celtic Football Club, and an award-nominee film star, it wasn't until his marriage to former comedian and psycho-therapist Pamela Stephenson that Connolly gave up his heavy drinking ways.

In Stephenson's biography of her husband in 2001, where she described his abusive childhood and life as a shipyard worker, he said at the time: "Marriage to Pam didn't change me, it saved me. I was going to die. I was on a downwards spiral and enjoying every second of it. Not only was I dying, but I was looking forward to it."

After shaving off his trademark beard in 1989 for a film role, Connolly has gone on to enjoy an unlikely Hollywood acting career, produced one of the most entertaining documentaries about his native Scotland, and sold out concerts in America.

Connolly has had his lows, too, though: from criticism about swearing in his act, the condemnations of jokes made about Ken Bigley before the hostage was executed in Iraq, and as a victim of tall poppy syndrome in his own land, it hasn't all been plain sailing for Scotland's most famous welder.

Ultimately, though, Connolly is a Scottish success story who overcame a difficult childhood to become one of our most popular exports. And even if some of the old hunger has understandably gone, he remains one of the world's funniest comedians. His upcoming shows at the Usher Hall should testify to that.

&#149 Billy Connolly, Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 8pm, 33, Thursday 17-Wednesday 23, 0131-228 1155

Being Billy Connolly

1942 – Born in Glasgow, to Mary Connolly Adams, a hospital cafeteria worker, and William Connolly, an instrument technician.

1958 – Becomes a welder working on the Clyde.

1965 – Leaves the shipyards to form a folk-pop duo called The Humblebums with fellow musician Tam Harvey.

1975 – Leaves folk music for a career in stand-up comedy, making his breakthrough appearance on BBC's Parkinson show. Enjoys further commercial success with novelty songs, parodying Tammy Wynette's D.I.V.O.R.C.E. and the Village People's In the Navy.

1985 – Divorces his wife of 16 years.

1986 – Visits Mozambique to appear in a documentary for Comic Relief.

1987 – Completes first world tour, including six nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

1989 – Marries New Zealand-born comedy actress Pamela Stephenson in Fiji.

1991 – Moves to LA and receives first leading television role as the star of Billy.

1994 – Begins 40-date World Tour of Scotland, to be broadcast by the BBC.

1997 – Nominated for a BAFTA for Mrs Brown, in which Connolly plays John Brown, a favoured Scottish servant of Queen Victoria.

2001 – Pamela Stephenson's first biography of her husband, Billy, is published.

2003 – Collects his CBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.

2004 – Is criticised for making jokes about hostage Ken Bigley during a performance at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

2005 – Announces his return to Scotland, after 14 years living in Hollywood.

2009 – Begins a series of sold-out shows in Scotland.