William Connolly

Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, musician, television presenter, artist and retired stand-up comedian, sometimes known by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his idiosyncratic and often improvised observational comedy, frequently including strong language, Connolly has topped many UK polls as the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. In 2017 he was knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to entertainment and charity, and in 2022 he received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement.

Born at 69 Dover Street in Anderston, Glasgow, to Catholic parents of partly Irish descent, Connolly worked in the early 1960s as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards before pursuing a career as a folk singer. He first sang in the folk rock band the Humblebums alongside Gerry Rafferty and Tam Harvey, staying until 1971. In the early 1970s he made the transition from folk singer to fully fledged comedian, making his theatrical debut in 1972 at the Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld with the revue Connolly's Glasgow Flourish, and producing his first solo album, Billy Connolly Live!, the same year. In 1975 he reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart with "D.I.V.O.R.C.E."

A regular guest on chat shows, Connolly made his first appearance on Parkinson in 1975 and appeared on the show a record 15 times. As an actor he has appeared in films including Indecent Proposal (1993), Mrs Brown (1997), for which he was nominated for a BAFTA, The Last Samurai (2003), Brave (2012) and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). He announced his retirement from comedy in 2018 and has since established himself as an artist.