Billy Connolly voted most influential British stand-up comedian of all time
Billy Connolly pictured in Glasgow in March 1974. Picture: The Scotsman Archive
WITH millions of fans around the globe and a comedy CV that spans five decades, everyone knows “the Big Yin” is funny.
And now it turns out that Billy Connolly is also influential – in fact, the most influential British stand-up comedian of all time, according to a survey of fellow comics and the wider public.
Out-ranking the likes of Morecambe and Wise, Victoria Wood and Peter Cook, the Glaswegian was nominated by comedians Jason Manford and Jack Dee for the survey, which also saw Robin Williams named top international comic, narrowly beating Spike Milligan.
Twenty-six per cent of the 2,000 people who took part voted for Connolly, who was praised for his “free use of language and unorthodox topics” by the TV channel Dave, which commissioned the poll.
Susan Morrison of the Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh said: “I’m very old, so I remember when the LPs came out and we heard for the very first time a Scots accent doing stand-up comedy.
“Every Glaswegian likes to think they’re Billy Connolly, but he has taken it to another level. He is an incredibly and naturally funny guy, engaging and warm. He is a defining moment in Scottish culture.
“I think he is the funniest man on the planet, and I’m very proud of him. I’m really chuffed he is number one.”
Younger comedians regularly cite Connolly as a strong influence. Daniel Sloss, a 21-year-old Edinburgh comic, said: “I’m a big fan of Billy Connolly. At the time, he did something new.
“He was one of the first stand-ups telling you a story, but as though it was being told by your mates, not a stand-up comedian.
“He has not influenced me directly, but I imagine he influenced comics who influenced me.
“I think people coming through now have not seen as much of his stuff because there’s more comedians now. Generally I don’t think you can influence an entire thing like comedy, but you can influence people.”
A shortlist of 40 international and UK acts was put to the public vote to mark the launch next month of a comedy festival in Leicester.
Steve North, channel head of Dave, said: British stand-up is up there with the best in the world and this is reflected by the fact that audiences for live comedy are at an all-time high.
“It is great to see trailblazing stand-ups such as Connolly and Robin Williams get the respect they deserve.
“Both Connolly and Williams have consistently pushed the comedy envelope and while they may have over 40 years of experience between them, they are still the funniest men on the planet.” But Tommy Sheppard, who runs the Stand in Edinburgh, suggested the list was as much about people’s awareness of comedians as the influence they wield.
He said: “A lot of people have made an influence on comedy. You can’t take away from what he did, but probably the survey is just a test of people’s awareness of comedian names.
“Billy Connolly remains a great comedian, in spite of that survey almost.”
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Comments
There are 40 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Mark
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:54 AMAs an American I have a fondness for Scotland. I have travelled there a few times and love the country. I saw Billy Connolly on an HBO special here in the States. He was introduced to the US by Whoopi Goldberg. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at his stand up. I have seen him here and there through the years and know that he is one of the best. No one deserves this honor anymore than he does. Well deserved.
duelaynomore
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:33 AMHe deserves this award..he is very funny, is a marvellous raconteur of tenement life in the 50's and 60's. I first saw him at a student union in Edinburgh and was appauld at the language he used on stage..as though he only had one adjective to his name............................................. He just needs to moderate his language to the audience...thankfully this aspect of maturity (and perhaps public relations necessity), has weaned him off the F word, to some degree, so unnecessary, when he has so much to say of genuine relevance to all Scots. Well done "big yin".
Scot from New Mexico
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:43 AM#22 - Who's Jasper Carrot? I can guarantee you that nobody here in Albuquerque, NM, USA has *ever* heard of hm, but plenty of people *have* heard of Billy Connolly.
Graeme M
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:35 PMI saw Mr C in the Usher hall in Edinbrugh, on TV at one stage with three rows of school children at the front of the gallery, and this individual spouted reems of filthy language for almost the entire 'show'. I wondered what the world was coming to, when this foul-mouthed individual could get world aclaim?..In my mind, he is the lowest of the low!...
Charles P
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:03 PMThat's two posts today gone straight to 'Moderation' with no abusive content in either of them. I have to ask, have I been Blacklisted? I have already emailed the Editor to investigate this.
Charles P
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:59 PMComment removed by moderator
AuldLochinvar
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:25 PM#24 Diplomat: Supposing that you are right about Connolly's influence waning in Blackpool, does that mean we should worry about Billy, or about Blackpool?
Nellie
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 06:04 PM22 Niddrie Nick Don't blame the statistics, blame the idiots who interpret them badly.
waspy100
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:41 PMblocking posts for having an opinion??? tsk tsk
waspy100
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:38 PMComment removed by moderator
waspy100
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 04:33 PMComment removed by moderator
Jinglebells103
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:05 PMWhen he came to Canada last year, the closest he played to our city was in Winnipeg, Manitoba. No problem...!!! We booked a flight and booked a hotel room and enjoyed a wonderful evening of fun and laughs. There were a lot of elderly patrons there, and even when he slipped out the "F" word, they roared with laughter, as the story with it was so funny, it didn't spoil the event. We love Billy..!!!
lorraine in canada
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:05 PMEvery time Billy Connolly comes over to Canada(Toronto) his shows are sold out. The majority of the audience is made up of Scottish people. I have seen him every time he has been here and he has me crying at his jokes. He makes his jokes something that you can relate to. I remember the joke about stopping at a gas station on the highway and getting a bag of liquorice allsorts and picking all the ones with the little blue balls on the outside and putting them in the garbage, something I do all the time. A small thing but I can relate to it. Love him he is hilarious.
Nosbert Pobjoy
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:30 AMNiddrie, are you seriously suggesting that Jasper Carrot is as famous around the world as Billy Connolly? Remember BC had that show in the USA..he's loved over there. Ok, the show was pretty gash but you see my point!
ramps
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:26 AMI've long thought that good comedians would make better political leaders than most politicians. I nteresting that Billy Connolly and Robin Williams are also I believe good buddies.
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