Billy Connolly picks up Bafta Scotland lifetime achievement award

Oct 29 2012

Billy Connolly

LEGENDARY Glaswegian funnyman Billy Connolly is to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Bafta Scotland for six decades in showbusiness.

The 69-year-old comedian, actor and musician is hailed by Bafta as one of Scotland's most successful talents and will be given the award for outstanding contribution to television and film.

The Big Yin, as he is affectionately known, will not be at the ceremony in November due to other commitments but a recorded message will be played on the night.

He will instead receive the award at a public event in December and Connolly is looking forward to returning to Glasgow and is sure he will have a "good laugh" with the audience.

"I'm really pleased and proud to receive this trophy from Bafta in Scotland because I know you probably think we luvvies get shiny prizes all the time. But actually, sometimes we don't," he said.

"I'm really sorry I can't be there because I'm in San Francisco doing some prior engagements. But in December I will be in Glasgow, where my heart is all the time, doing a Bafta Life in Pictures event highlighting my film and television work from over the years, which might be quite groovy."

The event in December will see Connolly discuss his life and career that has spanned 30 films, numerous sell-out stand-up tours and television series.

He is set to appear in Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut Quartet and the much anticipated The Hobbit, both to be released next year.

Jude MacLaverty, director of Bafta Scotland: "We are thrilled that Billy will be the recipient of an outstanding contribution award this year. He is a true master of his craft and continues to be a massive inspiration to a whole new generation of Scottish talent.

"We look forward to honouring him at the ceremony on November 18 and to hosting him at the Bafta A Life in Pictures event on December 10, where he will collect his award."

Past recipients of the outstanding contribution award include Sir Sean Connery, Brian Cox and Robbie Coltrane.

Ken Loach's film The Angels' Share leads the way in this year's nominations. The film, which earned the director the jury prize at this year's Cannes festival, is up for four awards at the Baftas in Glasgow next month.

It will compete in the categories of best feature film, Paul Laverty for best writer, and Paul Brannigan and Siobhan Reilly for best actor and actress.

Kevin Bridges's television show What's The Story? is nominated for best comedy/entertainment programme and the comedian is also up for best writer for the series.