Comedy channel Gold has commissioned two three-part specials of its show Billy Connolly Does… from Moonshine Features, (part of The Whisper Group), following the success of series one which aired in March 2022.
Billy Connolly Does…The Decades finds him stepping back in time to look at how politics, celebrity, sex, TV and football have changed for all of us in the last 50 years. With more exclusive access to Billy in his Florida home, the three-parters will air in early 2023 and 2024.
Each of the hour-long shows will focus on the years when Billy was at his brightest and very best. The 70s – when we first met him, the 80s – when we all fell in love with him, and the 90s – when he proved himself to be Scotland’s very best export.
Mixing Billy’s personal recollections, news and pop culture archive, along with more incredible stand-up from the archives, this series provides viewers with a trip down memory lane, but with a joyful and entertaining spin from Billy’s own anecdotes about his life over the years.
The specials are commissioned for UKTV by Iain Coyle, head of comedy entertainment, and ordered by Gerald Casey, channel director for Gold. Richard Watsham is director of commissioning, and Steve North is genre general manager for comedy and entertainment. Executive producers for Moonshine Features are Michelle Crowther and Mike Reilly, who is also the series director.
Billy Connolly said: “I love this series, who knew that the secret to making TV was hanging out at home, eating biscuits ,drinking tea and blethering on about the past?”
Iain Coyle said: “I’m so proud to be associated with this series. Billy, and the good people at Moonshine, consistently deliver warm, fascinating and hilarious insights into the mind and memories of this country’s greatest living comedian.”
Gerald Casey added: “It’s fantastic to have more Billy Connolly on Gold. These new series are set to be just as entertaining and heart-warming as the first and I’m excited for viewers to have a thoroughly enjoyable history lesson from the Big Yin.”
Moonshine series director, Mike Reilly, said: “UKTV have been brilliant in having the confidence to let this series flourish under its simple ambition to show that regardless of time or age, Billy is still the best company to hang out with. He never stops being funny or surprising and there is always a new tale to be told that floors you with its comic brilliance.”
Billy Connolly Does…The Decades joins other UKTV Originals on Gold, including Murder They Hope starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson which returns for a second series in October.
Pippa Considine
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