In My Own Words

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2024
Season 1
5 episodes

Arts and culture
Documentary

Summary

Get up close to artists, writers, actors, comedians and poets – and discover both what fires their imaginations and the forces that have shaped their extraordinary lives.

In My Own Words: Billy Connolly

Summary

The comedian looks back on his life and career, reflecting on his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, the joys of growing older and wiser and his triumphs and failings as an entertainer, husband and father. Featuring access to a wide range of archive materials capturing key moments from his life

Review

David Butcher

BBC Arts launches a “fresh, contemporary series of unmediated interviews” with creative figures. Or, in other words, clip shows: artists looking back on their professional highs and lows. Billy Connolly has recently done retrospectives on both ITV1 and Gold, but it’s still a pleasure to hear him reflect on his career.

These days, the Connolly voice emerges from billowing clouds of white beard and hair, like a comedy Methuselah, and what strikes you is his warmth and positivity. “It’s lovely watching yourself age,” he says. “It’s not a scary process, it’s the truth.”

The clips transport him back to his early stand-up (“I was hopeless”), the routine that inspired Peter Kay, and a touching goodbye from his friend Robin Williams.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming

BBC iPlayer

Details

Languages

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenameUnknownBilly ConnollyProducerMike ReillyProducerMichelle Crowther

All episodes

In My Own Words: Billy Connolly

Summary

The comedian looks back on his life and career, reflecting on his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, the joys of growing older and wiser and his triumphs and failings as an entertainer, husband and father. Featuring access to a wide range of archive materials capturing key moments from his life

Review

David Butcher

BBC Arts launches a “fresh, contemporary series of unmediated interviews” with creative figures. Or, in other words, clip shows: artists looking back on their professional highs and lows. Billy Connolly has recently done retrospectives on both ITV1 and Gold, but it’s still a pleasure to hear him reflect on his career.

These days, the Connolly voice emerges from billowing clouds of white beard and hair, like a comedy Methuselah, and what strikes you is his warmth and positivity. “It’s lovely watching yourself age,” he says. “It’s not a scary process, it’s the truth.”

The clips transport him back to his early stand-up (“I was hopeless”), the routine that inspired Peter Kay, and a touching goodbye from his friend Robin Williams.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming
- BBC iPlayer
Details

Languages

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenameUnknownBilly ConnollyProducerMike ReillyProducerMichelle Crowther
In My Own Words: Jackie Kay

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