I've never cared for Connolly the folksinger (would anyone like to bid for my Humblebums double CD?), but he's written some good songs. I care even less for the comedian, but I thought him hilarious in 'Water' and impressive (even if over-acting at times) in 'Mrs Brown'.

A story: At the time 'Mrs Brown' was made he went up to Glenfarg Folk Festival, and I watched him sitting in a pub with Iain MacKintosh. I later commented to Iain on the fact that nobody seemed to bother him much. Iain then told me people had been coming up with anything signable to get his autograph, till the barmaid said, more or less, 'Isn't that horrible! Why can't people leave you alone?' Billy replied, 'Well, it's better than being a welder in the shipyards ...' (expletives deleted)