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Sir Billy Connolly
Comedy
Settle in with the king of stand-up as he unpacks a lifetime of making people laugh. This is Billy like you've never seen him before. Billy reveals his process whilst showcasing some of his very best routines. Billy takes you behind the mic to learn the magic of comedy from the man who pretty much invented it.
19
video lessons
Course notes
The course
For over 50 years, Billy has been the undisputed king of stand-up. For the very first time ever, Billy unpacks his career. Illustrated with some of his favourite routines, Billy talks you through the techniques he's learned in his unrivalled career, like how to build expectation and then subvert it at the right moment, where to source material and then enrich it for comic effect, timing between jokes to ride on the wave of laughter that you'll create, how to build a bond with your audience and yes how to dispense with hecklers.
Your Maestro
You already know wee Billy. He’s the Big Yin – the king of stand-up who’s topped numerous polls, being hailed the funniest, most influential and greatest comedian of all time. For 50 years he’s honed the art of stand-up and knows how to find the funny in everyday life. And he knows that standing up on stage is the best laxative known to man.
Lessons
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2 mins
Billy welcomes you to a standup comedy class like no other.
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7 mins
Listen to those friends who tell you you’re funny. Get out there and perform.
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9 mins
Once you’ve done it, it’s exhilarating – so learn how to get over stage fright
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5 mins
If you want to know how to be funny, you must learn to be vulnerable.
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5 mins
You don’t need banana boots, but you do need a stage presence. Find yours.
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10 mins
How to connect with the audience to start strong and ride the laughter wave.
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9 mins
Learn to listen to your brain’s quirks and unlikely connections – it’s where comedy gold is found.
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14 mins
Look at life with the Scottish comedian famous for his observational comedy.
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13 mins
How to go from improvisation to comedic timing and physical comedy.
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6 mins
The best comedians are usually humble and don’t know they’re the best.
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10 mins
Shock people. Why not? Rules are there to be noticed and then joyfully ignored.
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12 mins
Dealing with hecklers is hard. See how it’s done by the best standup comedians.
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8 mins
Get to know different audiences and how they are never to blame.
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13 mins
Take a glimpse at what life is like going from town to town to make people laugh.
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5 mins
Drugs and alcohol are often trouble for comics. Billy opens up about his struggle.
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7 mins
Understand the difference between copying and being influenced by other comedians.
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10 mins
Take risks. Get noticed. And build a team of trust around you.
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8 mins
Go deeper with Billy as he talks about the healing power of comedy.
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2 mins
Billy sends you off with a bucketful of wisdom on how to be a standup comedian.
Get started
Single course
- Learn with Sir Billy Connolly
- Enjoy over 2 hours of video lessons at your own pace
- Watch as many times as you like
- Own course for life
- Download course notes and exercises
$90
one-off payment
Buy Course
Annual subscription
- Access every BBC Maestro course, including Sir Billy Connolly
- Enjoy over 100 hours of video lessons at your own pace
- Watch as many times as you like
- Explore brand new courses added throughout the year
- Download all course notes and exercises
- Learn with the world’s greatest such as Marco Pierre White, Jed Mercurio, Alan Moore and Julia Donaldson
- 30-day money back guarantee
$120
for a one year subscription
Subscribe to BBC Maestro
Course notes
70 pages
A downloadable PDF with further tips and exercises to help you hone your funny bone.
Get that funny friend finally on stage
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