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Billy Connolly will be knighted at Buckingham Palace today
Published 07:29 31 Oct 2017 GMT
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'Arise, Sir Big Yin.' What an icon.
Comedian and actor Billy Connolly will be knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to entertainment and charity.
Over the course of his remarkable career, Connolly has consistently been one of the funniest people alive and despite his recent ill health, he's still helping other by working for Comic Relief. In 2013 he announced he was being treated for the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease, admitting he had started to forget his lines during performances. During the most recent show, the Glasgow comedian opened his segment by saying: "Hello, Billy Connolly here asking for your cash. Not for me obviously. I’ve got cancer and Parkinson's and I definitely need a haircut but no..." Rather than shy away from discussing his ill health, Connolly has actually used it as part of his routine and in the process, he has done what he does best, making people laugh. Being the man he is, the comedian has actually used lines like: “I’ve got Parkinson’s disease and I wish to f*** he had kept it to himself," during his routine.After learning that he had been given a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list, Connolly told the BBC: "I am a little embarrassed but deep within me, I'm very pleased to have it. I feel as if I should be called Lancelot or something. Sir Lancelot, that would be nice. Sir Billy doesn't quite have the same ring."
Aside from his hilarious comedy shows, Connolly has also been a welder, folk musician, playwright, humanitarian and actor. Regarding his film career, he has appeared in Muppet Treasure Island, Mrs. Brown, The Boondock Saints, The Last Samurai, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies to name just a few. In his own immortal words: "before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? You're a mile away and have his shoes!" Well, we really hope that the Queen says 'Arise, Sir Big Yin.' No man deserves it more.Explore more on these topics:
