University Challenge credited the wrong artist with creating Connolly's footwear

The BBC has admitted it slipped up over Billy Connolly’s banana boots.

Jeremy Paxman asked a team on University Challenge who had designed the comedian’s famous footwear.

But the question-setter attributed them to artist John Byrne rather than their true creator Edmund Smith.

The error was made during a Christmas celebrity edition of the quiz show, when Paxman asked University of Kent alumni: ‘Born in Paisley in 1940, which artist and playwright designed Billy Connolly's banana boots and wrote the Slab Boys trilogy for the theatre and the series Tutti Frutti for television?’

After conferring with his team, captain Paul Ross admitted defeat and replied: ‘Nicola Sturgeon.’

To which Paxman responded: ‘Funny answer, but not right. John Byrne.’

Smith’s daughter complained to the BBC, which admitted: ‘Evidence from several sources, including a detailed account of the matter in Pamela Stephenson's biography of Billy Connolly, confirmed that the boots had been designed and made by Edmund Smith.

‘The executive producer responsible for oversight of the series drew the finding to the attention of the independent production company which makes it.’

The boots are currently on display at the People's Palace Museum at Glasgow Green.

Published: 19 Jul 2017