Parkinson was the best talk show host because he allowed his guests to talk without interrupting and did not think he was the star, He said that he always regarded himself as a journalist not someone in show biz,

Billy Connolly is an absolute gentleman! I met him once in a bar in Edinburgh, he was with Robbie Coltrane before Robbie hit the big time!! I offered to buy them a drink but Billy insisted on buying me and my wife one! We had a brief conversation as I didn,t want to appear rude the man is truely a legend!!!!

Rather ironic that Parkinson and Billy were such good friends bearing in mind Billy's current condition..there was such an outpouring of love for Sean Lock when he passed..i can't begin to imagine what it'll be like when Billy goes (and i don't want to imagine it,but it will happen at some point)...Thx Billy for making me laugh so much over the years

@markpalmer7215

2 жыл бұрын

As Billy said, “I’ve got Parkinson’s disease….I wish he’d f’ing kept it to himself”

@Mumscup

2 жыл бұрын

I know that Billy will live on in our hearts for ever, bugger I’m tearing up…

@ID-pw8zb

2 жыл бұрын

He’ll be immortal and rightly so. He’s a gift.

@patbest642

2 жыл бұрын

I first saw Billy in Greens playhouse Glasgow & he did the crucifion well before Parky made him famous he was only known In Scotland at the time!! I felt like I'd had an appendectomy the next day & my Jaws were totally knacked. The man is a genius to do what he did without any sort of script just making it up as he goes along.. There will Never be another ever like him!! He's still here bless him & respect to his views on Parkinsons disease... Positivity is very Scottish, cup always half full 🤗 Mr Connolly live long & prosper❤️

@jimibhoy8935

2 жыл бұрын

@@patbest642 Well said, he is the undisputed king of comedy.

Billy Connolly is an absolute legend. He really has no equal.

@bigredfella13

2 жыл бұрын

Id say Robin Williams but that's about it lol

@manu-tonyo9654

2 жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree more mate, one of the funniest men ever.

@annedunne4526

2 жыл бұрын

Billy Connolly is one of those comedians that can give you a pain from laughing. He can make you cry with laughter. Not many are like that

@splodge561

2 жыл бұрын

Peter Kay

@jimmunro4649

2 жыл бұрын

Billy eat Williams

Total legend. Not a joke teller just a story teller. Funny as F*&k. Total blessing to the world.

I’m from Glasgow and I have to say listening to Billy talk is so very much like talking to my late father. The accent the sarcasm and the wit seem to be common to Glaswegians.

Parkinson was always the best host. A master of the art of shutting up and listening to the guest. Admittedly, once Billy gets into gear, you don't have much choice !

Michael Parkinson gave Billy his big TV break. It was all down to one joke about a bike.

@casperwallace9685

2 жыл бұрын

Parkinson has always been terrified of what Billy would say LIVE on TV, but they have become good friends over the yeats and yes the bike joke had Parky on the edge of his seat. It was brilliant and Parky nearly ended himself on live TV...dam funny.

@franl155

2 жыл бұрын

I remember Parky's nervous look when Billy said "I hope I can get away with this".

@casperwallace9685

2 жыл бұрын

@@franl155 Me too, people forget what the BBC was like in those days. Billy was way out of their comfort zone. But the reaction gave him a free pass for future shows. Parky was always funny with Billy, he really didn't need to do any interview. It was like a free show - for nothing. Imagine the leap in viewing figures.

@themcgeachys

2 жыл бұрын

@@casperwallace9685 I used to listen to Billy on radio Clyde

@casperwallace9685

2 жыл бұрын

@@themcgeachys Yes, he was one of a kind. So sad he is now too ill to do what he did so well.

Billy is the greatest and he’s so natural

I met Billy in a pub after a show in my home town. I told him he'd made my dad laugh so hard on Parkinson that he'd fallen off the sofa. He seemed pleased.

@JL16061980

Жыл бұрын

That's an amazing story ❤ I've had to rush to loo many a time through fear of a no1 incident of laughing so hard. He tickles me in places.... just magnificent. Comedy and music touch me like nothing else. I'm my father's daughter for sure.

@davidsmith7653

26 күн бұрын

I remember watching Parky in 1975 when Billy told the bike joke. I was 15 and I literally fell off my chair and ended up collapsed on the floor. I still think it was the funniest joke I ever heard and I've followed Billy ever since.

Billy really is the greatest stand up to have graced the stage. Those who say otherwise have not seen him live. And by live I don't mean a dvd or special. I mean in the theatre. I've seen him 7 times. You get 2.5 hours (none of this 60 minute special stuff) of laughing until your lungs feel like you've got covid!

@ftumschk

2 жыл бұрын

I saw him once just over 20 years ago, and I swear my ribs are still aching. Wonderful comedian.

@chrisbrace2204

2 жыл бұрын

It'll be like when Ken Dodd died. A man with a similar reputation as someone that was absolutely unbelievable live

@widget1005

2 жыл бұрын

@@ftumschk I saw him twice at Hammersmith Odeon about 25 years ago and cried with laughter for the whole show both times. He's a genius. He said to us that when we went back to work the next day and were telling people we'd seen him, they would ask us about some of what he'd said that was so funny and we wouldn't be able to remember any of it! He was absolutely right because there was so much!

@alanandconnielast

2 жыл бұрын

Lee Evens was better.

@JoelWende

2 жыл бұрын

@@alanandconnielast Lol! Not even close!

Billy is the best story teller and Parkie was the best interviewer because he asks one question and sits back and sees where it goes. Its not about Parkie, its about the guests With Billy, everyone is an audience! Genius

Eclectic alan. Michael Parkinson had Billy on his show from circa 70s-80s. Billy had the most appearances on his show and they were close personal friends. Billys had the distinction of going on the show for over an hour and Michael never getting to actually ask a question. All best from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Billy is probably the best and funniest storyteller of all time.

Looking at him now, Billy reminds me so much of my uncle. I’m Dutch, I live near Groningen, capital of the most northern province which is also called Groningen. And the city Groningen has many street musicians, but the most famous of them all is a man named Mordecai, but everyone knows him as Moti. He’s from somewhere in the middle-east, and he’s my uncle. He married my father’s sister. Everyone loves him, he’s an utterly lovely man with curly white hair and a big mustache. He’s loud, loves AC/DC, speaks Dutch okay but mostly speaks English with a very thick middle-eastern accent. And looking at Billy, everything about him reminds me of Moti, I don’t see him often enough. Anyway, damn, what a legend Billy is. The way he tells a story is like a movie in and of itself. Incredible comedian and an incredible man.

Ok, a piece of trivia for you, when Billy is introduced, the music that is playing is from a long running radio show called The Archers and why they played this is because he did a show years before this one called An Audience With Billy Connolly and in it he said that UK national anthem was so boring that people hated Britain winning anything at the Olympics because it took half an hour for the bloody flag to get up the pole, so he suggested that it be changed to the theme from The Archers and that the queen could sit side saddle on a horse, participating in the tune whenever it was played. That show is one of the funniest that he has done and is definitely well worth watching and you might even recognise a lot of people in the audience because there are a lot of famous faces to be seen being brought to tears with laughter.👍🤣

The main thing I liked about Michael Parkinson, is that he understood that he was not an entertainer, and it was the job of the guests to entertain. To many interviewers today feel as if it is as important to get their jokes in. This can backfire of course when some real superstar turns out to be an utter dullard. Examples being Dustin Hoffman and Ann Bancroft. But many had very interesting stories to tell, and Michael always gave them the space and time to tell them.

There will never be a chat show host as good as Michael Parkinson.

Michael Parkinson is a Yorkshire legend

You've hit a goldmine EBR, the Parkinson interviews! There is so much material there!

He’s made a few travel programs that are all worth watching.

@cliveclive54

2 жыл бұрын

Highly recommended \m/

Have you seen the one where he talks about the Glasgow terrorist attack would definitely recommend it

@MetalHeadReacts

2 жыл бұрын

YES!!!

Billy's arse had barely hit the chair before he was off like a greyhound out of a trap!! He's so funny my stomach aches with laughter. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!!😂😂 By the way, nice to see a fellow Leeds United fan, we certainly need a good laugh now and then!!😂😂😂🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Funfactlet: Billy's intro music in the vid clip is the theme tune to the Archers a classic radio episodic sitcom, which at one point in one of his comedy shows he went "All stand for the National Anthem" at which point the Archers theme tune started playing. Edit: I've also been lucky enough to see him live as well. One of Billy's classic methods of his comedy is how he rambles away from the topic on hand.

Billy Connelly is a just a decent person, full stop.

Interesting fact. Christian bale based his portrayal of patrick bateman on tom cruise. He said when he saw him interviewed he saw that relentless cheeriness but that he was dead behind the eyes

@johnkochen7264

2 жыл бұрын

Scientology will do that to you.

@MaggieTheCat01

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@shawnsnow2655

2 жыл бұрын

That character was scary as hell.

@TheLastAngryMan01

Жыл бұрын

The eyes are the window to the soul.

I knew Billy Connolly when he was a Glasgow folk singer (banjo player) in a group called the Humblebums around 1974. His stories between songs got longer so he became a comedian who did a few songs. He gigged at a couple of Scottish hotels i worked at and off stage he was a very down to earth guy!

Great wee Scottish movie that Billy stars in " down among the big boys " 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

@lilyliz3071

2 жыл бұрын

Boof bang tickety boo 😂

@shugd3

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilyliz3071 vault scene is pure Glasgow comedy 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Ohh Billy, you are endlessly and so easily entertaining

I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to Billy when I was 14 back in the 70s, not long after he'd done his first Parky. Cracking bloke who went on to become a pal, well, since then. Whenever he did a big show in London I would go. 80s 90s 2000s right up ʼtill his last show at the Hammersmith Odeon (I'll never call it the Apollo.) Thank you so Billy for all those funniest nights ever. R.I.P Parky

For me, Billy is THE greatest comedian ever. Yes there are many many great comics out there over the years but Billy just seems to be loved EVERYWHERE. doesn't matter which country you go to, they seem to love him

I used to have the VHS tape of An Audience With Billy Connolly. I’ve got it on DVD but the VHS version was about 30 minutes longer. The audience was other comedians, actors, news readers, weather presenters, etc, and he had them in stitches. I could imagine a few needing hospital treatment to remove silly grins. It was great when he was finally recognised with a knighthood: Sir Billy Connolly.

@Feefifum

Жыл бұрын

This has to be one of the best comedy moments ever. No matter how many times Ive seen it, I can watch it again.

Love how you said "if you get offended, then, oh well" that's the exact approach we take in Great Britain. And we get away with it. Simple. You just cannot please everyone.

I always equate Billy Connolly with Robbie Williams. The two most naturally gifted comedians of their generation.

@sadehill8201

Ай бұрын

Hope you mean ROBIN not Robbie and the two where the forest of friends in real life and spend a great deal of time together privately

Parkinson and billy were greatest of friends

Billy is not only so funny but has a big heart and very genuine. I am sure he was a good welder but he found his calling and has done so much good for so many.

It's going to be a devastatingly sad day when Billy finally passes, and I dread when that day arrives. But part of me can just imagine him and Robin up there, talking and laughing for eternity... no one else getting a word in edgewise lol.

@janetmackinnon3411

Жыл бұрын

Yes, it is a great loss. I wept.

You should come to my native Glasgow, Billy is famous here for a different reason, he made us all famous through taking the humour throughout the world. Just about everyone i know in Glasgow has a sharp wit, and a keen mind, comes from making light of the living being hard. There is some Billy in all of us.

@jameshepburn81

2 жыл бұрын

And heroin.

@Retrospective.

2 жыл бұрын

@@jameshepburn81 no mate, from your accent, i would say that's more over your side of the country. We do have loads of places to ride a bike, or take a dog for a walk, or even do pond patrol.

@jameshepburn81

2 жыл бұрын

@@Retrospective. it was only a joke.

Billy met his wife, Pamela Stephenson, on Not the Nine O’clock News. There’s a hilarious clip of her interviewing him as Janet Street Porter and him trying to keep a straight face.

Parkinson was a BBC Chat Show which ran for many years and Billy Connolly appeared on the show several times, Parkie ( as some people call him) also interviewed Muhammad Ali

Sir Michael Parkinson and Sir Billy Connolly are great friends in the real world. Due to Parky, Billy got his real first big break on one of his chat shows - which is worth viewing on its own - Angie Dickinson was one of Parky's others guests on that show. Billy's future was assured.

@heathergibson2108

2 жыл бұрын

Poor Angie Dickinson I don't think she was prepared for Billy. A funny episode

Not only a legendary comedian he is a brilliant actor. His best role is Mrs Brown where he played John Brown a manservant to Queen Victoria.

This man is the best naturally funny guy on the planet. When he went on stage it was always unscripted.

Billy Connolly and Robin Williams can/could both just talk on talk shows without a word from the host and you wouldn't notice.

When I was a kid,he was a pal of my dads,he was in the same Celtic supporters club and when I used to go the games with them,he would have us in stitches 🍀🇮🇪🍀

Sir Michael Parkinson and Sir Billy are great mates, Billy as he was back in the 70's appeared on the show and it kick started becoming a household name, the things these two have got up to over the years, Sir Michael actually comes from a journalist background, and has been on our screens and radio for 50 years, some very good interviews with the Stars of yesteryear

Parky pretty much introduced Billy into the mainstream way back in the 70's

The introductory music was "The Archers" (aka "Barwick Green") - a radio show that started January 1951 making it the oldest running radio drama in the world.

@izzyroberts5518

2 жыл бұрын

Introduced to teach Farmers new methods to boot

@Robbie3004

2 жыл бұрын

And the reason they played it is that Billy once suggested it replace God Save the Queen as the national anthem!

This is clip of Billy is one of my favourites but will always make me kinda sad, thinking about how he's suffering from Parkinson's now. BC is one of a kind and an underrated global comedy hero. I've grown up and live just a few miles where he's from- near the Clyde Shipyards in Glasgow. There will never be another one like him, especially in today's close-minded comedy climate... I'm so proud to be from the same place as such a kind-hearted "entertainer" (in the truest sense of the word). Please watch more of this hilarious genius, and keep his name alive. All the best, Alan Alex, Glasgow

I love your reaction ❤ Billy is just... well literally anything which falls out of his mouth is funny ❤ It's impossible not to love him x

The Big Yin. Immortal. Got to see him live for the 'Too Old to Die Young' Tour at Southend Cliffs Pavilion. He sneaked out into the outdoor areas just to take in the people turning up and milling about. So wished I could have got to exchange a few words. The show was a hoot. He made everyone's face ache with laughter.

Love Billy so much. Thank you for your reactions. I am Scottish, grew up out side Glasgow, and he is like everyone's favorite mad granddad. My dad also has the same accent as they grew up together in the same area. Anderston, Glasgow. My dad has the same mannerisms (76) and humour (not in front of mum hee hee) which is hilarious. My accent is a wee bit different now with work and travel and grew up out side Glasgow city center, but I can still descend into this around friends in Glasgow. He has done amazing work and god love him for how he is now, also received a Doctorate from Glasgow University while quite ill. I used to listen , I used to listen to him on my dad's vinyl records, his stage shows. If anyone would like a wee look, have a peek at his take on the terror attack we had at Glasgow Airport....or anything else, an absolute master of humorur.

Michael Parkinson and Billy Connolly are great mates offstage too. They've toured Australia together and got into some scrapes.

When billy goes he a world not just national treasure

If I ever feel down I watch billy on youtube..he has me in tears of laughter.

Billy is a legend a gentleman and shows exactly what glaswegians are about. Love from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

If ever Parkinson's ratings were dropping, he'd get Billy on and secure himself another 2 seasons

So sad that they are no longer friends after 40 years of friendship. I hope they can sort it out before it’s too late. Both men are the finest examples in their fields. I can only go a few days max without watching or listening to Billy. I’m loving watching you react to him EB! ❤️from 🇬🇧

Parki always said there were 2 guests which would guarantee him his highest viewing figures every time. One was Billy Connolly and the other was Mohammed Ali.

You don’t invite him onto a chat show to interview him, he comes on the off h goes for half an hour.. legend

I don't know if you've seen a lot of Parkinson interviews but one to definitely check out if you haven't already is Freddy Starr telling a story to Muhammad Ali. It's pure gold 👌🏻

I've watched interviews with Billy and Parky, where 25 minutes in Parky has said "I've only asked one question" while laughing his arse off.

I’ve heard that on movie sets that Billy has to have a makeup call time hours earlier than necessary because he never stops telling distractingly hilarious stories.

The Big Slipper and the Energy Suit… I still laugh at those stories having watched and listened to them over 100 times … Billy is similar to Peter Kay - the ability to make you laugh at almost anything…. ❤️

Billy in all his glory

Billy never dies🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The Cruise struggled to keep up with Billy. Billy operating at a higher level of Funny!

Tom Cruise on the english " Top Gear was a Hoot " ! , worth a watch

Billy Connolly is one of the best (If not the best) comedians ever to come out of the UK. And I'm pleased to say the Scottish part of the UK. None of the young up and coming comedians will ever come close to what "The Big Yin" has achieved in his long career. The man is a living legend and it will be a sad day when he leaves this earth 🌎 But, no doubt knowing The man through his comedy he will have the best Chinese funeral ever. He remains the only person who has ever made me cry with laughter and pain at the same time.

Kenneth Williams was always good value on chat shows. A very interesting character. Miriam Margolyes is always comedy gold on The Graham Norton Show as well.

@shawnsnow2655

2 жыл бұрын

She's a legend on Graham's show! That is a dirty minded old bird.

I remember Billy when he was drinking, he lived in Drymen and I lived in Balloch and I used to drink in Drymen on occasion. He used to get his banjo out and delight the punters at the local pub. I loved his stories and songs. He is a wonderful musician.

Not often I laugh ALL the way through, but this had me in stitches.

Michael Parkinson was the KING of chat shows he just let them be no ass kissing he asked a question and it just went off, He gave Billy his start and also PETER KAY was the warm up man for Parkinson which is why he and Peter are also close. Parkinson was an ok fella. He could get them all to come on his show.

You are so lucky to experience Billy the first time. I’ve seen him a million times and he brings joy with his wonderful mighty mind.

You're right, it's a joy to watch anything he's done- love his travel documentaries of many countries in the world- he's a legend with everything he does whether it is stand up comedy, movies or his travel documentaries 👍🏿🇦🇺

First time I ever saw him was on video around 1981/82 - my sides still hurt from laughter two days later! Tremendous respect for him 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@pinkbeatle2012

Жыл бұрын

he's definitely one of the best.

So glad you got to this one! Billy was on excellent form that night!

Fairly sure, first time on TV, his manager said, for heaven's sake don't do the joke about parking your bike !!!!

@scottlochans4180

2 жыл бұрын

I am Wrong, Tom Cruise wasn't an actor, the early 70.

Billy is my antidepressant, brought me back from some dark places. 🙏❤️

There's this fantastic interview with Billy Connolly, although unfortunately the video quality isn't good. Clive James (who was fantastic in his own right) interviews him and gives an absolutely hilarious introduction. The other guest in that interview is none other than another UK legend David Attenborough.

I love the fact Cruise is right on the edge🤣

Great reaction once again, you should react to parkinsons final show, with Billy, Micheal Caine and David Attenborough, they have a surprise guest in Peter kay, it's hilarious 😂

Thanks for watching more of billy pal,he never ever gets old 🍀

You need to see Billy's first appearance on Parkinson. It contains a classic Connolly joke.

Billy is a legend and very good in all he does Always cheers me up

The signalman story is brilliant

Billy is the greatest British comedian bar none

Ya a bloody tonic mate. Happy days! 👍

Billy was the perfect guest - every time Parkinson says a couple of words and Billy does 15 minutes.

When Billy did stand up the rest simply sat down,listened,laughed and learned.

Those are three of my favourite guys and I'm also loving the Leeds United and Yorkshire pendants. Thanks for the video.

Michael Parkinson's chat show became the place to see virtually every celebrity ever. From Connolly to Orson Welles. Billy was a regular after he was introduced to the wider UK on the show in the mid-1970s.

Great stuff...Love that lad Billy, He's a Legend

Your laugh is infectious , love from Liverpool UK

Love ur comedy reactions ....would love to see some BILL HICKS

Parkinson’s style was that it was always about 5he guests. He considered it arrogant of a host to appear clever himself because there was an inference that they were making it about them. Something that Parki viewed with some disdain. Billy Connolly was sexually abused as a boy..

@ID-pw8zb

2 жыл бұрын

I can’t watch American chat shows, they’re absolutely horrendous. The hosts over there have absolutely no people skills whatsoever which is the key skill in hosting. Parkinson was fantastic, the best of them all. Shoutout to Graham Norton also 👌🏻

That was like an entire comedy specials worth of material just off the dome in an interview. He’s always on, like he said it’s who he is... genius !

Is fantastic Billy Connolly always used to watch him when I was growing up is so funny😂😂❤

Seen this a few times, hilarious each one lol

I know you don't do movies but if you like Billy you should watch What We Did On Our Holiday (2014), maybe just with your family or alone when you feel like a laugh and a cry. It's very funny and quite beautiful.