Billy Connolly

Connolly the court jester backs fellow Scot for glory

One of the spectators in Andy Murray's courtside box during his win over Jürgen Melzer had a funny turn here last night. Billy Connolly, who is on a tour of Australia, performed at Melbourne's State Theatre after spending the afternoon watching Murray, having accepted his fellow Scot's invitation to join his entourage in Rod Laver Arena.

Billy Connolly interview

You get to wear some lovely sparkly costumes, says Billy Connolly, and then all you have to do is swan around while ­everyone looks at you. He might have been describing his wife Pamela Stephenson's ten-week stint on Strictly Come ­Dancing, but he was talking about himself. The Big Yin is starring as King ­Theodore of Lilliput in the blockbusting 3D movie Gulliver's Travels.

Billy Connolly to do Strictly Come Dancing if wife wins

Billy Connolly has vowed to be on next year's Strictly Come Dancing if wife Pamela Stephenson wins the final.

How Billy Connolly's beard almost ruined his big break

Billy Connolly almost missed out on his first film break - because of his trademark beard and long hair.

Billy Connolly takes to Route 66 for ITV

The Scottish comedian is to get his kicks on America's most famous highway, Route 66, for a new ITV1 series.

No amount of digital remastering would have improved the pilot episode of The Adventures of Daniel, just some top-to-bottom rewriting. Not unlike the BBC's other new sitcom, Grandma's House, The Adventures of Daniel revolves in sub-Seinfeld fashion around a comedian playing himself, in this case the teenage Scottish stand-up Daniel Sloss. He seems like an engaging and talented lad, but he was ill-served by some gruesomely unfunny material, all constructed around the notion that his (Scottish) girlfriend's (English) dad didn't care for him, but thought that his (Scottish) girlfriend's (English) sister's (Scottish) boyfriend was the bee's knees. As the (Scottish) girlfriend's (English) mother, looking faintly as though she had wandered into the wrong rehearsal room, was Imogen Stubbs.

Some of the previews of this pilot were decidedly enthusiastic. One of them even featured the emotive word "funny". So maybe I was alone in finding it, on the whole, as funny as gastroenteritis. Coincidentally, trawling through the channels not long after watching it, I happened on a superannuated Scottish stand-up, Billy Connolly, on one of his world tours, and was reminded what "funny" really is. But then not everyone is tickled by Connolly, either. What "funny" is more than anything is subjective, so let me just say that The Adventures of Daniel might be your thing, but on this early evidence it certainly isn't mine.

How overseas Billy Connolly keeps his Scots links alive

Overseas-based Billy Connolly is about to receive the freedom of Glasgow. The Scotsman examines how the former shipyard worker keeps his Scots links alive.

Billy Connolly set to receive Freedom of Glasgow award

Scots comedian Billy Connolly is to receive the Freedom of the City of Glasgow later.

Billy Connolly sculpture commissioned for Glasgow flats

A sculpture of Glasgow comedian Billy Connolly is to take pride of place at a new housing development in the city.

Interview: Ben Miller, comedian, actor

If comedy is all about timing, then I'm no Billy Connolly; we've only just met, and already Ben Miller is clearly trying very hard not to wince. But it turns out that his pain is intensely physical; earlier in the afternoon he was filming a stunt for the Catherine Tate Christmas special and wrenched his shoulder badly. However my timing is still off since I'm the only thing standing between him and a visit to a chiropractor. Stoically he insists it's no problem.