Billy jokes his career is ‘out the window’ as he receives Bafta
SIR BILLY CONNOLLY joked that he was happy to receive the prestigious Bafta fellowship “now my career is out the window” in a prerecorded message at the academy’s TV awards.
The Big Yin, 79, was honoured at the ceremony for his long, successful career in comedy, television and film.
He was unable to attend in person but in a recorded message he said: “I am very proud to receive this. Life is good. I haven’t been on the stage for about two years. This is kind of nice. It suits me.
“Symptom spotters among you may notice that my left is different from my right. It is just one of these things. Parkinson’s disease. I suffer badly from the disease. My wife puts on my clothes in the morning and takes them off at night. It is a jolly life. I have got no complaints.”
He spoke about his career and the role television played in his stardom.
The Glasgow legend added: “I went from strength to strength on television and here we are today getting this award.
“I couldn’t be happier. It has made me such a happy man getting these good attendance medals now my career is out the window.”
Sir Billy, who was knighted by the Queen five years ago, joins a prestigious list of recipients including Sir David Attenborough, Dame Julie Walters, Sir Trevor McDonald, Dame Joanna Lumley, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
He retired from live performances in 2018, five years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but has continued to record programmes and make TV appearances.
The Fellowship is the latest in a long line of prestigious awards.
In 2002, Sir Billy was presented with a Bafta Special Award and made a CBE in the 2003 Queen’s birthday honours. In 2010, he was given the highest honour Glasgow could bestow upon him, the Freedom of the City.
Two years later he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Bafta Scotland for six decades in showbusiness.
Other Scots stars to appear at last night’s awards included RuPaul’s Drag Race star Lawrence Chaney and TV favourite Lorraine Kelly.
The presenter sent a “special hello” to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as she took to the stage to present the news coverage award.
Mr Johnson appeared not to know who Kelly was during an interview with Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid on Tuesday.
She presented the award to ITV News At Ten for its coverage of the storming of the US Capitol.