Billy Connolly

In 1980, two Cork outsiders, Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan, met at a New Year's Eve party. Bonding over music, a friendship and songwriting partnership was ignited; the band they formed, Microdisney, was one of the best bands of the 1980s that you’ve probably never heard. Mixing Sean’s stunning melodic arrangements with Cathal’s poetic, angry lyrics, they recorded three brilliant LPs, gained critical adulation and an obsessive cult following. But a hit single eluded them, as did radio play and LP sales. By 1988, frustrated by their lack of progress, the band crashed and burned, leaving a trail of acrimony and broken friendships.

Konnie Huq celebrates the very best of British children’s television, with a dazzling array of clips from some of the most treasured programmes ever made and revealing chats with some of TV’s most beloved stars. But Konnie also tells a perhaps more surprising story: of how kids’ TV has frequently been at the forefront of social change, in terms of the stories it tells and the people who get to tell them.

Jack Docherty brings together a jam-packed cast of comedians, actors and famous faces for a riotous celebration of Scotland's most valuable export – its sense of humour. Scotland is a small nation with a big funny bone. It's known the world over for self-deprecation, quick-witted patter and deadpan asides. But what makes it so funny? To find out the answer, this programme delves deep into the BBC Scotland archives to find a century’s worth of classic characters, catchphrases and comedy clips.

Those close to Billy Connolly recall his career in comedy, acting and music.

A study of the comedian and actor based on interviews, TV appearances, and stand-up performances from his career, revealing his journey from a childhood of mother abandonment in Glasgow tenement blocks to the pinnacle of worldwide showbusiness.

Billy Connolly invites us to his newly adopted home of the Florida Keys for an intimate look at the life he leads since deciding to step back from stand-up comedy.

Sir Michael Parkinson looks back over his 50 years as a broadcaster, revealing some tricks of the interview trade and remembering some of his favourite encounters.

Billy Connolly returns to Glasgow’s famous Kings Theatre, where his journey into comedy first began, to talk life, death and laughter, in a no holds barred encounter with Will Gompertz.

Schooled in Fife, coming of age in a rock ’n’ roll band, then finding her forte was directing temperamental actors, Cora Bissett is no stranger to theatrical Scottish swearing. So who better to present a celebration of Caledonian cursing? This documentary sees Cora sing, swear and scrutinise why Scotland swears so well. Cora begins with the first hurdle – how does one discuss swear words on the BBC? Aunty Beeb is the institution that has been historically priggish about language - always bleeping words and apologising for those that slipped through. So Cora runs a list past BBC Scotland’s head of editorial standards to see what she can get away with.

As all-time comedy-great Sir Billy Connolly steps back from his legendary stand-up shows, this star-studded special celebrates Billy’s uproarious time on-stage and laughs along with his greatest stand-up moments. Filmed at his home in the Florida Keys, Billy looks back fondly at five hilarious decades on stage. There are exclusive chats with some of Billy's biggest famous fans including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Russell Brand, Sir Lenny Henry, Aisling Bea, Armando Iannucci and Sheridan Smith - alongside the insider insights of his wife and soulmate, Pamela Stephenson. Billy Connolly: It’s Been A Pleasure… is a definitive celebration of a comedy colossus. An uplifting, emotional and hysterically funny 75 minutes in the company of the Big Yin at his entertaining best. It will make you laugh. It may even make you cry. A festive treat and a fitting send-off for a stand-up like no other.