A battered and neglected child, Billy Connolly first turned himself into a classroom clown as a means of survival. As an adult, he built on that early experience, his provocative brand of humour - able to inflict laughter and outrage in equal measure - making him one of the best loved and most talked about comedians of his generation.

 But although Connolly now enjoys the status of a comic institution, he continues to be dogged by controversy. The trappings of success, big houses and smart cars, the friendships with royalty and the Hollywood films have led to the pundits at home accusing him of abandoning his Glasgow roots.

 'An entertaining read' Mail on Sunday
'Lively, competent and comprehensive' Glasgow Herald
'Thoughtful and incisive approach... Billy Connolly was, and indeed still is a vitally important comedian' Irish Times