Billy Connolly jokes his career is ‘out the window’ when he lands a Bafta scholarship
Sir Billy Connolly joked that he was happy to receive the prestigious Bafta scholarship “now my career is out the window” in a pre-taped announcement at the Academy’s television awards.
The 79-year-old Scottish comedian, also known as The Big Yin, lives in the US and was unable to attend the event in person, but recorded an acceptance speech.
He was honored on Sunday for a career spanning more than five decades.
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Sir Billy Connolly receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (PA)
Sir Billy, who has Parkinson’s disease, said: “I’m very proud to receive this. Life is good. I haven’t been on stage for about two years. That’s kinda nice. It fits me.
“Symptom seekers among you may notice that my left is different from my right. It’s just one of those things. Parkinson’s disease. I suffer a lot from the disease.
“My wife dresses me in the morning and undresses me in the evening. It’s a fun life. I have no complaints.”
After sharing anecdotes that illustrate how the world has changed in his 50 years of comedy, he added, “I’ve only gotten stronger on television, and today we get this award.
“I couldn’t be happier. It made me so happy to get those medals for good attendance now that my career is out the window.”
He joins a prestigious list of honorees including Sir David Attenborough, Dame Julie Walters, Sir Trevor McDonald, Dame Joanna Lumley, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
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Sir Billy, who was knighted for services to entertainment and charity in 2017, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and retired from live performances five years later but continued to record and appear on television.
Born in Glasgow in 1942, he began working life as a welder in the Clyde shipyards before embarking on a career as a folk singer and musician alongside Gerry Rafferty in The Humblebums before developing the stand-up act that made him famous.
He is also an accomplished actor, best known for his role opposite Dame Judi Dench in 1997’s Mrs. He is also a gifted travel reporter, making a number of popular documentaries.
In 2002, Sir Billy was awarded a Bafta Special Prize and was made a CBE in honor of the Queen’s birthday in 2003.
In 2010 he received the highest honor Glasgow could give him, the Freedom of the City.
Two years later he was honored by Bafta Scotland with a Lifetime Achievement Award for six decades in show business.
Sir Billy has been married to actress-turned-clinical psychologist and author Pamela Stephenson since 1989.
His most recent projects have been TV shows, including 2018’s Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland, 2019’s Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail and 2018’s Billy Connolly Does of Gold.
Last year he published an autobiography entitled Windswept & Interesting.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/billy-connolly-jokes-his-career-is-out-the-window-as-he-gets-bafta-fellowship-41628524.html Billy Connolly jokes his career is ‘out the window’ when he lands a Bafta scholarship
