Billy Connolly to present ITV series about death

SCOTTISH comedian Billy Connolly is to front a new documentary series about death in which he discusses his own thoughts after being diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

By The Newsroom Tuesday, 4th March 2014, 4:07 pm

Billy Connolly is to front a new documentary series about death for ITV. Picture: PA

In the ITV series, with the working title Billy Connolly’s Big Send Off, the 71-year-old shares his views about the afterlife and heads to various locations around the world to examine traditions and beliefs around death.

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In the series he “sets out to gain an insight into the rich variety of attitudes, belief systems, rituals and customs relating to death that are woven into different cultures and communities”, according to a press release.

‘The Big Yin’ is said to candidly share his thoughts on his own death and how he would like to be remembered.

Connolly visits a pet cemetery, a drive-through funeral parlour and his favourite graveyard in Glasgow, and discusses the funerals of friends he has attended including The Who’s Keith Moon.

He also duets with Eric Idle on a version of the Monty Python song Always Look On the Bright Side of Life, and the pair joke about plans for quirky graves and discuss dark humour.

Richard Klein, ITV’s director of factual programmes, said: “Death comes to us all, that much we know. And yet still it can come as a shock to realise that.