Wha's like us... Billy Connolly

Published on Sunday 25 November 2007 00:26

AS Billy Connolly celebrated his 65th birthday yesterday, he may have reflected on the circular nature of life. As well as marking that milestone (though it is doubtful this multi-millionaire will have much need of a free bus pass), he had also recorded Michael Parkinson's final chatshow.

It was Parky, of course, who gave Connolly his big break in 1975. The Glasgow comic charmed the audience with a bawdy joke about parking a bicycle in an unusual place - and the rest is showbiz history, involving sell-out concerts and hit TV shows worldwide, and even an unlikely Hollywood career.

Connolly has had his lows, too, from perennial criticism of the 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.

But, ultimately, 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 funniest people on the planet. Happy Birthday, Big Yin.