Billy thinks idleness would kill him

Billy Connolly says he will never give up stand-up... as it’s the thrill of live performance that keeps him going.

The 70-year-old is celebrating 50 years as a performer, but says he finds the idea of retirement ‘obscene’.

Speaking as he picked up an outstanding contribution accolade at the Scottish Baftas last night, Connolly told reporters: ‘The Chinese says that death seeks the hands that have nothing to do.

‘Stand-up is what I do, it’s my job. People say to me, “You’ve enough money now, you can stop any time”. But that’s like asking a painter to put down his brushes.’

And he said that quitting comedy would kill him.

‘In the shipyards, they would retire guys at 65. ‘Here you are Willie, here’s your wallet and watch’ Then after a few months you’d hear Willie wasn’t very well, then after six months he’d be dead because he had nothing to do.’

Connolly will be performing stand-up in New York and San Francisco in January, and appears in the new Hobbit film as Dian Ironfoot.

Published: 19 Nov 2012