Connolly on the origins of comedy

Billy Connolly says the secret of good comedy is… immigration.

The Glaswegian comic reckons cities that have attracted the most immigrants produce the funniest people.

And he has fuelled an old rivalry by claiming Edinburgh folk are just not funny.

The 64-year-old was discussing whether Scottish people were especially witty, when he said: ‘I think Irish people are just as funny and Liverpool people are funny, and Newcastle people are funny, and East London people are funny.

‘I don't know why. I think it's about immigration, because I don't find Edinburgh people all that funny. They're very interesting and nice, but you wouldn't point to funny as being one of their features.

‘I think it's because Glasgow gets a different kind of immigration. There was an Irish and Jewish immigration and Italian immigration, and a different kind of people from the Borders moved into the east side of the city.’

However, Ireland has not, until recently, had many immigrants – which might undermine his argument as to why he considers the Irish funny

‘There are little pockets of funny all over the world,’ he said, ‘It's intriguing and I would hate to know why. I just like the fact that it is.’

In his interview with Glasgow’s Daily Record, Connolly also claimed that America had much better stand-ups than the UK.

He said: ‘Robin Williams is the best comedian in the world. There are a lot of great, great American stand-ups and always have been. They're the best in the world.

‘I think the British, right now, when it comes to television comedy, like Little Britain, just excel. But when it comes to stand-up, the Americans have it by far.’

Click here to read the interview in full.

Published: 8 May 2008