“Big Yin” biker hits iPod-playing passer-by

By Michael MacLeod

A MAN lost control of a three-wheeled “Billy Connolly type motorbike” and crashed into the back of an iPod-wearing pedestrian who didn’t hear it coming.

Craig Douglas had just bought his huge new motorbike and “couldn’t wait to have a shot,” despite being uninsured and without a full licence.

But he hit a dip in the road before smashing into Paul Hutchinson, 24, who had to be taken to hospital for cuts to his head and back.

Douglas, 42, admitted dangerous driving at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was today (Thurs) fined £400 and hit with seven penalty points, meaning he loses his licence as a new driver.

Generous Billy Connolly gives ten pounds to homeless man

By Oliver Farrimond

BIG-HEARTED Billy Connolly showed his generous streak in Scotland’s Capital earlier this week, taking the time while shopping to give a homeless person £10.

James Crawford, 38, was begging outside Sainsbury’s on busy Rose Street in the centre of Edinburgh on Tuesday, when the Big Yin emerged from inside and gave him a ten pound note.

Connolly, who was sporting his trademark beard with a black jacket, then stopped to chat, saying that he hoped James would soon be able to find somewhere to stay.

James, from Edinburgh, said: “I didn’t see him go inside, but I recognised who he was as soon as he came out.

“He saw me sitting here and gave me a ten pound note, and said that he hoped I would be able to sort myself out.

The Big Yin gets a big fright

The Big Yin

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTS comic Billy Connolly has revealed he has stage fright ahead of his Scottish tour later this year.

It’s the first tour he has done in four years and tickets sold out in hours.

But the Big Yin has admitted that he is terrified of the big crowds that will greet him in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth.

Big Yin: “I like careering around murdering people”

By Rory Reynolds

Scottish funnyman Billy Connolly is set to become a comic-book character.

The Glasgow-born comedian will appear as an assassin called “Il Duce” in the series of comics to come out with the film Boondock Saints II, released later this year.

The world-famous comedian played the same character in the cult 1999 original Boondock Saints.

He said: “I like careering around shooting people and murdering people – I don’t think I would like to do it in my life, but it’s a great chance to pretend.

Fans finally get their hands on tickets for Big Yin

 

By Cara Sulieman

FANS trying to buy tickets to see legendary Scots comic Billy Connolly play live at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh failed to see the funny side yesterday after computer glitches again crashed the booking system.

City of Edinburgh Council, which owns the venue, had been working overnight to try and get the system up and running again after it failed on Monday.

But despite assurances all would be well yesterday, they were only able to fix half of it, and only phone bookings were being accepted.

Online sales were unavailable as even an alternative link failed, leaving fans to scrabble over the phone lines as they tried to secure tickets for the show.

Rush for big Yin crashes website

The apology on the Usher Hall website

By Cara Sulieman

A HUGE scramble for tickets to see the ‘Big Yin’ play live in Edinburgh caused an entire booking system to crash yesterday.

Billy Connolly fans were left frustrated trying to get hands on the briefs for any of his four night gigs at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

Demand was so high that the booking system failed meaning people couldn’t book either online or by phone.

And because the council-owned venue is being refurbished, no-one could pick them up in person either.

Queen Victoria’s brooch to go under the hammer

By Cara Sulieman

A PIN commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her gillie John Brown will go under the hammer later this year.

It is expected to reach £700 in the Scottish Sale which will be held in the capital on the 18th of August.

John Brown died in 1883 when he was 56 years old, and the Queen commissioned an Aberdeen jeweler to create a brooch in his memory.

They were then given to the Queen’s highland staff and cottagers so that they could wear them on the anniversary of his death along with a mourning scarf.