Television show set to recall The Greatest’s visit to Paisley
One of Paisley’s most famous visitors is featuring in a new series of the People’s History Show.
The STV programme includes the fascinating story of when a young up-andcoming American fighter, Muhammad Ali, visited the town to the surprise of more than 1,000 Buddies.
The boxing icon starred in a exhibition fight at Paisley Ice Rink in August 1965 where he took on his fellow American Jimmy Ellis.
However, the crowd’s reaction to the fight is well documented as the Paisley spectators jeered the man who would later be crowned The Greatest, The People’s Champion, and The Louisville Lip - who floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.
Three times heavyweight world champion Ali died in June 2016, aged 74, and remains one of the most important sporting heroes in history.
Ali’s historic, if uninspiring, boxing bout in Paisley is among the amazing vignettes from Scottish history documented in the show, which returns to our TV screens on Monday, April 16, at 8pm.
Presenter Angus Simpson said: “I’ve always been fascinated by the personal stories behind some of the most famous – and not so famous - events in Scotland’s past.
“There are many fantastic stories coming up on the People’s History Show, and it’s an absolute delight to be presenting them.”
Executive producer Paul Hughes added: “The People’s History Show continues to be a must-see for anyone with an interest in Scotland’s history. Viewers can expect some truly fascinating stories as Angus and Sarah journey all over Scotland to delve into some of the most remarkable events, places and people of our past.”