Billy Connolly's History & Cuture Of Glasgow | Made In Glasgow

In recognition of our Official Ambassador Billy Connolly receiving a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television and Film, here's an exclusive interview. Billy talks about his love of the River Clyde and how it has shaped the 'Dear Green Place' from the boom of the ship-building years to the modern architecture, music, dance and sport that defines the City today.

There's nowhere like Glasgow!

Archive courtesy of the National Library of Scotland.
Music: 'Blanket' by eagleowl & 'A Grand Defeat' by Over the Wall

[irishelk]

Is there any greater man born in this planet?. I’m always so moved by Billy Connolly. I think about him all the time, and remember some of his funny comments and jokes and that always puts me in a positive mood. The things he says just get stuck in my head...A lot of people will miss him when he’s gone. I've had the privilege to see him twice, wish it could have been more but its better than nothing. He’s a rebel, he’s a legend, there’s just nobody like him.

[GlasgowGran]

Bravo Billy. As an adopted Scot, born near London and partnered with 'a Glasgow guy' for the better part of 40 years, the Glasgow you speak of will have my undying respect and passion till the end of my days.
Bless Glasgow and bless you too Billy.

[hmaren]

"I'm goin' there myself." So true. Happened to me my first day in Glasgow. An elderly man who I asked directions from, hearing my American accent, walked me three of four streets to make certain I knew where I was going.

[Joaocruz]

We love you ! You Sir are amazing! Greetings from Portugal and congratulations for your comedy and makes us laugh for ages. Not calling you old but wise and lovely person. Cheers

[AshAlmond]

Billy is a great man. Glasgow is a great city. So, a great man live is a great city.

[JamesFaulds-zt]

I still get a shiver down my spine when the Orange Bands parade aroung Bridgeton Cross. Brilliant!

[thomasjones]

The Best Ever Comedian Of All Time The Big Yin Sir Billy Connolly,

[zew]

God I miss being back home! Havent been back since 2000 or so, just before they knocked down my childhood neighborhood Sighthill. That city is my heart! Oh and Celtic of course....😆

[oldmanlung]

Billy's Brilliant haha! I ought to visit Glasgow some time!

Regards from Canada

[berlinblue]

the way its going billy will be in the team

[NxDoyle]

They talk about cities having ambassadors. Everyone should be an ambassador for where they're from.

[josephpashka]

Thank You, Sir Connolly. My father was born on Long Row, in Carnbroe. Legendary pickles, I hear.

[ft]

Of all the time I've been to Glasgow it's never been that sunny.

[elizabethlennonremsburg]

I miss the old school River Clyde even in the 1970-1990’s. It’s the most romantic and historic city in Europe for the poor who leave and become successful people with the wonderful Glasgow that inspired them and made them who they are. No other city in the world gave this to its people.

We smelled and now yearn for the aromas of the iron, textile in Paisley, tabacco, biscuit-making in mass production as children from as far south as “new” Pollok and up in the Gorbals.

Anyone from Glasgow has a cheery and strong character and a diverse and fast humor with a strong desire for education and better way of life for their own children. They had an Irn Bru after work if lucky, stopped sometimes to bring a sweetie home, had fish n. Hips wrapped in lead print newspaper satiated with salt and malt vinegar that stunk up the buses.

We ran free as children running -as muck. Green Celtics of the Old Firm where the Catholics team with their Catholic graveyard across street and down. The blue Rangers were their rowdy lifelong rival even now. But now, that rivaling is more romantic recalling our ice cold fingers as we watched outside into homes.

Glaswegians of that time watched our parents and Grandparents work all day for the “Corporation” or factories like the famous Singer Sewing Machine Corp, McDonald’s Biscuits, and if lucky the well paid Bunnett cap jobs from in shipbuilding.

Sean Connery made a wonderful movie in 1970’s about Glasgow industry highlighting the Industrial Revolution and the difference of hats. The Bunnetts were always the working glass. It cannot be viewed except on British old VCR. So I would support you getting the rights and re-releasing Sean Connery’s “The Bunnett and the Bowler” ( meaning the working class and the superiors) movie as Glaswegians, historians, inventors, scholars, sociologists, psychologists should see this documentary movie and we children would love to see it also all around the world as we now are.

Thanks for posting this video. And please do consider re releasing “The Bennett and the Bowler”. I’ve been unsuccessful in being able to see this Glasgow mass factor and River Clyde working class movie.

[shelaghmckenna]

I think the greatest joy of Glasgow is the people's amazing combination of toughness and humour, their finding humour in their toughness. In another video Billy says that he thinks it's from a combination of immigrant influences, but I see the Prydyn Gymru humour of Strathclyde and the fierce survival instincts of Gaels from the highlands whose mighty work was taken from them. They needed that combination of toughness and humour. To this day, their toughness is part of their humour and their humour is part of their toughness. Whatever fire truck they're chasing, count me in.

[ALePrieur]

Billy Connolly, my name is Annie Burns LePrieur  I was also born in Partick  Castle Bank Street   Glasgow I live in Ontario Canada I loved your  wee history story about our  city  Glasgow   Thank you  Anne

[MsMesem]

I met my first Glaswegian in the USA. He started talking about the glowing pumpkins produced courtesy of Chernobyl...

[zeicholtz]

That's the first time I've understood Connelly when he was talking (of course the subtitling helped.)  I was born and raised in Glasgow myself.  I laughed at his description of the Glasgow people.  I remember that when you asked directions you'd often end up with several people giving you opposite directions.  I now live in a very rainy area - Western Washington state.

[reelcapture]

'Glasgow City Pulse' is a short film montage of the city sights if you love Glasgow.

[lindaj]

1:45 “No concert hall when I was a kid” Wasn’t the Playhouse there, and the Dennistoun Palais, and the Barras? Where did the world-famous Glasgow Orpheus Choir perform?