Billy Connolly is the comedian of his generation. The best comedian to ever come out of the UK. Here is a list of 10 of his best DVDs.
1. Billy and Albert.
Filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 1987, Connolly shows exactly why he was considered one of the top 3 comedians in the world alongside Richard Pryor and Robin Williams.
It contains some of his classic routines such as Tarantulas and Their Crafty Ways and Scuba Diving.
Hilarious from start to finish with some of Connolly’s notorious ADHD included for good measure.
2. Billy Connolly Live 1991
Connolly in his prime. Some brilliant routines about pit bull terriers, dog sex, and chatting with women. It also has one of the funniest sets you have ever seen about soccer.
This tour became famous after Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol stormed out of one of her shows after making an exception to Connolly’s jokes about her mother’s resignation as Prime Minister.
3. Billy Connolly Live 1994
Another night at the Hammersmith Apollo and another classic Connolly DVD. Some classic stories about growing up in Glasgow, his first shipyard jobs, and singing at parties.
This video was also very controversial. Shortly after its original release, it was pulled from distribution following jokes Connolly made about mass murderer Fred West. With West’s trial still ongoing at the time, they were thrown out several minutes after he complained that it could harm his case.
Connolly commented, “I think the bodies in your yard will do that, Fred.”
4. Billy Connolly bites your ass
Filmed at the Victoria Apollo in 1981, this was Billy Connolly’s first live video. The culmination of a year-long tour of Great Britain.
It contains a lot of earlier raw material from Connolly and some parodies of classic songs.
5. Handpicked by Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly’s second live video. It contains her brilliant routine on ‘Lovely Rachel – The Inflatable Lady’.
This is the first Connolly when his act was based more on jokes than on his post-observation style.
6. Billy Connolly Live in Dublin 2002
Even approaching his 60th birthday, Billy Connolly proves once again that he is one of the best in the business. This show was the pinnacle of his world tour of England, Wales and Ireland. This video also spawned his YouTube hit on the tobacco police and cell phones.
Contains bonus footage from their sold-out nights in Belfast, Killarney, Newcastle, Plymouth, Cardiff and London.
7. Scotland World Tour
The first of the Connolly’s World Tour series for the BBC and, in my opinion, the best. In a 6-part series, Connolly travels the length and breadth of his native country, revisiting many of his old places. Mixed with footage from over 60 live shows during his tour.
Connolly visits many places close to his heart throughout his native country.
8. Australia World Tour
Second series of Billy Connolly’s BBC tour. A country that Connolly hated in his early days is now a place he truly loves. Experience various Australian customs and attractions, including swimming with dolphins, cake floats, and Aboriginal art galleries and museums.
9. World tour of England, Wales and Ireland
The third in the BBC World Tour series. Connolly travels across the UK to show off some of the places close to his heart. This includes things like: the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland; His grandfather’s grave in Southern Ireland; and the Geordie miners.
10. Billy Connolly Journey to the End of the World
Connolly’s latest travel journal takes you to some of the wildest and most remote places in the world. Explore the vast Arctic region, from Canada’s Nova Scotia to the Pacific Northwest Passage. In the footsteps of the world’s most daring explorers, look for bears, whales, and icebergs. He also meets many people who have found a home in this frozen desert.
All of these DVDs and more are available in the Billy Connolly Ultimate DVD Box Set
For the full list, visit www.billyconnollydvd.com/ultimatedvdboxset
