Born in a poor tenement block, Connolly was abandoned by his mother, Mamie, at the age of three and brought up by his aunt, Mona, who used to beat him, and his father, William, who sexually abused him - a background explored in his 2001 biography Billy.

As a teenager, he joined the Clyde shipyards, where he served his apprenticeship as a welder. While working there, he bought a banjo for £2 10s after seeing blues singer Pete Seger on the TV, and started performing on Scotland's folk circuit as part of a band called the Humblebums, which counted Gerry Rafferty among its members.

While performing, Connolly noticed that audiences warmed to the banter between his songs, which built up his confidence. In 1970, the band split up and he started performing solo.

Also during his time at the shipyards, he met his first wife, Iris, with whom he had a son and a daughter.

His big break was on the Parkinson show in 1975, which made him a star and led to his first UK tour: The Big Wee Tour.

He spent many years on the road, the lifestyle taking its toll, and he became a heavy drinker, until he gave up alcohol in 1986.

His reputation grew and grew, and he eventually moved to California to try to break into the US, with varying degrees of success.

In 1989, he married Pamela Stephenson, who he met while recording a sketch for Not The Nine O'Clock News.

CV

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Billy, has the best handle on todays' trials and tribulations. Thank God for Billy Connolly who is the only person left that has true talent. He ranks above the Ronnies and Tommy Cooper etc

Ivan Highcazony, July 2006

I don't see any problem with him making jokes about someone who was there and knew the risks involved, for god's sake. If you don't like people making jokes about things which happened recently then don't go to comedy shows!

Holmes Philipeens, June 2006

A great guy, a comedy legend, but come on, there are much funnier stand ups around and everyone knows it really..

Jim, May 2006

Too many people are too quick to jump on the bandwagon and maul this great man for comments which have been hugely overexaggarated by the press. Since when has Billy Connolly been a clean-cut comedian? You go to his gigs expecting to be shocked by both his language and his material. This is the problem with trendy young audiences flouncing into a Billy Connolly gig not knowing what they're in for, then becoming outraged at something which any comedy fan could have pretty much anticipated. It's time to give the man a break, and some credit, given all the fantastic things he has done for the comedy industry during his forty year career. Always equipped with fresh material, always ready to go off on a tangent if he feels like it and always willing to go on way beyond three hours if the audience are enjoying themselves. A truly generous and gifted comedian

Charles Thomson, March 2006

A shouting, swearing Scot can only amuse for so long. Maybe it's time he retired.

Paul Thornton, March 2006

Has got to be one of the worst comedians ever. Shouting non stop in an irritating Scottish accent about unfunny things isnt comedy

Flesh Eating Zombie, March 2006

Think about the personal tragedies that you have been through in your life, then imagine going through those times in public, then having a person of the magnitude of Mr Connolly saying what he said, he was seen as a "working class hero" coming from where he did to arrive where he has, the fact that he said this about one of his own, a working man, and the lack of any public appology is what I always think now when I see him, it used to be that any show with him in would make me watch, now I have to switch off.

Dean Gough, March 2006

He has been in dire need of new material for the past 30 years. At a student union gig in Glasgow in the late 70s he was heckled with "How about a NEW joke, Billy?" Like the true professional he is (NOT) he flounced off-stage, and refused to come back on. Still, he's found his niche with the adoring Michael Parkinson, and sucking up to the royals. Shame - he once showed real promise as a funny man...

Stevie, February 2006

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