Billy Connolly has put his foot in it again – with an ill-judged comment about September 11.

Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper has rounded on the comic for referring to the tragedy on stage in New York, claiming fans were stunned into silence.

Connolly received the reportedly frosty treatment after saying his reaction to seeing his father, William, in hospital after a stroke “was like 9/11”.

He said: “There were about four people in the room. They all said, 'Holy s *** ! Holy s *** !' 'That was the only exclamation I heard.

“What a weird thing to say. I mean, don't you think something else would have come into your mind?”

But he sensed the discomfort with his analogy and swiftly changed tack, telling the 1,500-strong audience in New York Town Hall: “I could hear you pulling away from me there.”

After the gig, New York fan Stuart Jenkins, told the Record: “He is just the master. It was a bit embarrassing when he started to talk about September 11 but he won everyone over again.'

In October, Connolly caused a storm of protest after making a sick joke about hostage Ken Bigley, days before he was beheaded.