FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

Sir Billy Connolly is set to receive a Bafta Fellowship. MARION MCMULLEN looks at previous recipients

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Sir Alec Guinness was presented with his Bafta Fellowship in 1989 by film director Sir David Lean, who received the award himself in 1974. The pair worked together throughout their careers on films like The Bridge On The River Kwai, Oliver Twist, Lawrence Of Arabia and A

Passage To India. 6

COMEDY legends Morecambe and Wise were awarded a posthumous Bafta Fellowship in

1999. Des O’connor and Eric and Ernie’s wives, Doreen Wise and Joan Morecambe, attended the awards ceremony honouring the duo who made their double act debut in 1941.

Sir Billy Connolly will be presented with a Bafta Fellowship at the TV awards show on Sunday. The 79-year-old Scottish comedian, left, is celebrating a career spanning more than five decades. The Bafta Fellowship is the highest accolade given to recognise “outstanding and exceptional contribution” in film, games or television across their career. Billy said: “It’s lovely to be recognised and to become a jolly good fellow.”

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Only Fools And Horses star Sir David Jason was presented with the Bafta Fellowship in 2003 by his Open All Hours co-star Ronnie Barker. He simply told him “Granville, you’ve done it”.

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James Bond star Sir Sean Connery gave an emotional speech when he was awarded the Bafta Fellowship in 1998. Billy Connolly joined him on stage and the

007 actor jokingly told him: “I’ll deal with you later.”

Not many people know that. Sir Michael Caine was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship and a lifetime achievement award in 2000. He was knighted the same year and won an Oscar earlier for Best Supporting Actor for The Cider House

Rules. 3 Psycho and North By Northwest film director Sir Alfred Hitchcock was awarded the first Bafta Fellowship in 1971. He accepted the honour saying: “I am deeply honoured to receive this from my fellow technicians. I was a technician in England I think as far back as 1920 and I’ve behaved myself ever since.”

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Dame Julie Walters told everyone to sit down when she was given a standing ovation when she was awarded the Bafta Fellowship in 2014. She joked: “It’s been a long night. Almost as long as my career.” 4

Laurence Olivier gave his 1976 Bafta Fellowship acceptance speech from the set of Jesus Of Nazareth while wearing the costume for his character Nicodemus. Choral music played in the background as he said: “I hope my apparition does not make you nervous.”

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Absolutely Fabulous favourite Dame Joanna Lumley was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship in 2017 and said: “To be counted amongst the greatest talents of our industry is an awesome gift. The Fellowship is the grandest

and most unexpected prize I have had the joy of receiving.”