Sir Billy Connolly mentioned he doesn't let his Parkinson’s illness dictate who he's as he spoke of his honour at receiving this 12 months’s Bafta fellowship.
The 79-year-old comic, often known as the Huge Yin, will likely be celebrated for a profession spanning greater than 5 a long time on the awards ceremony on 8 Could. The fellowship is the best Bafta accolade given to recognise excellent and distinctive contribution in movie, video games or tv.
Connolly, who was knighted in 2017 for companies to leisure and charity, was recognized with Parkinson’s in 2013. He retired from reside performances 5 years later however has continued to file programmes and make TV appearances.
The Scottish star, who lives within the US and is married to the actor turned scientific psychologist and creator Pamela Stephenson, won't be able to attend the ceremony in particular person however has recorded an acceptance message.
He advised Bafta.org: “Doing the identical factor you’ve all the time completed is sweet for you. I don’t let the Parkinson’s dictate who I'm – I simply get on with it. I’ve had a really profitable profession and I've no regrets in any respect.”
Born in a tenement flat in Glasgow in 1942, Connolly labored as a welder within the Clyde shipyards earlier than turning into a people singer and musician alongside Gerry Rafferty within the Humblebums. But it surely was his transfer into standup that introduced him fame.
In addition to his comedy profession he has gained reward for his appearing roles together with reverse Judi Dench in Mrs Brown in 1997 in addition to The Man Who Sued God and The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies.
Extra just lately he has discovered a brand new viewers along with his TV documentaries and final 12 months printed an autobiography, Windswept & Attention-grabbing.
The popularity from Bafta is the most recent in an inventory of honours. In 2002 he obtained a Bafta particular award and in 2003 was made a CBE within the 2003 Queen’s birthday honours checklist. In 2010 he was given Glasgow’s highest honour, the liberty of town, and two years later was recognised with a lifetime achievement award by Bafta Scotland.
Connolly mentioned that whereas he was very pleased with his assortment of “shiny issues”, he had “by no means got down to get them or hunt them down”.
Emma Baehr, the chief director of awards and content material at Bafta, thanked him for his “phenomenal profession on tv”, saying he had made “a exceptional contribution to our trade” and develop into a “nationwide treasure on stage and display, adored by followers all over the world”.
The comic joins the likes of Sir David Attenborough, Sir Trevor McDonald, Dame Joanna Lumley and Jon Snow in receiving a fellowship.
He mentioned of the accolade: “I'm deeply honoured. Fifty movies and ... I can’t keep in mind what number of TV reveals – in addition to my stage comedy – added as much as one thing that’s a pleasure to look again on. A stunning factor.
“I had no thought the fellowship existed, however I’m advised it’s an enormous deal! It’s pretty to be recognised and to develop into a jolly good fellow.”
The Channel 4 collection It’s a Sin, written and created by the Physician Who screenwriter Russell T Davies, leads the Bafta tv award nominations this 12 months with 11 throughout the craft and tv awards classes.
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