Billy Connolly

To celebrate BBC2's 50th anniversary, the channel exhumed an hour of so-called hidden treasures from The Comedy Vaults, including un-aired pilots, cult classics and first television appearances from comedy legends such as French & Saunders, Steve Coogan and Billy Connolly. There was even rare archive footage of Harry Hill with hair.

Monty Python's Eric Idle was also on hand to puncture the general air of self-congratulation, suggesting BBC2 should actually be charged with crimes against humanity for losing or wiping so many tapes containing classic comedy episodes and performances.

One tape the station would have done well to lose featured the band Madness, starring in an eponymous sitcom written for them by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis. It would be hard to pick out one band member for opprobrium, as they were all so dreadful.

Billy Connolly interview

Billy Connolly: Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated.

Billy Connolly told about Parkinson's & cancer same day

Billy Connolly: I found out I had Parkinson's and cancer on the same day. The comedian and actor says illness has not dented his sense of humour - he has even incorporated his shaking hand into his act.

Billy Connolly wants Scotland to stay with England

Billy Connolly wants Scotland to remain part of the UK rather than become independent.

The Janey Godley three minute interview

Janey Godley is busy. She's a full time comedian and playwright, blogger, actor, podcaster, mother and bestselling author, but she's probably best known outside her native Scotland as a regular on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute. Billy Connolly once famously said she's, "a fucking great comedian". Martin Walker agrees.

Billy Connolly to present documentary series on death

Billy Connolly will explain how he wants to die in a brand new documentary series on death for ITV.

Billy Connolly: I will not vote in Scottish referendum

Billy Connolly has revealed he will be New Zealand when the Scottish independence referendum takes place on September 18, but says in any case he's got no interest in the debate about the future of his homeland.

Billy Connolly to keep performing despite memory issues

Billy Connolly has said that he plans to keep performing despite his recent memory issues.

Video: Bill Bailey: My Comedy Hero... Les Dawson

Bill Bailey reveals that Morecambe & Wise, The Two Ronnies and Billy Connolly had a lasting impact on him growing up, but adds that one of his earliest comedy memories was watching Les Dawson with his parents.

Billy Connolly gets prostate cancer all-clear

Comedian and actor Billy Connolly has been given the all-clear from prostate cancer.