National Television Awards 2016: Billy Connolly to be honoured

Scottish comedian and TV personality Billy Connolly will be honoured at the 2016 National Television Awards. He has been announced as the recipient of the special recognition award for the year.

Oscar award winner Dustin Hoffman, who was Connolly's long-time friend and colleague, will do the honours. Hoffman will be flying in from Los Angeles to present the award. Connolly was born in Glasgow in 1942 and started off as a folk singer before making a mark in television and films.

One of his supporters Armando Iannucci, who is the writer and creator of The Thick Of It said, "It's unbelievable and yet no surprise that we're celebrating fifty years of Billy Connolly. Because he doesn't compromise, because he doesn't fit a label, he has no shelf life, he's not part of a phase. He's unique."

The award-winning producer added: "You can't really sum him up. The only way you can explain him to someone is by saying, 'just try and imagine Billy Connolly," reported ATV today.

The award is in recognition of Connolly's contribution as a much respected performer in a career spanning 50 years. The 21st NTA will be hosted by Dermot O'Leary and broadcast from the O2 London. The tribute to Billy Connolly can be viewed on ITV, STV and UTV on 20 January from 7.30pm.

The NTA celebrates UK's favourite TV programmes and stars and is strictly based on votes garnered from the public.

Conolly has been married to Pamela Stephenson, an actress-turned-clinical psychologist, since 1989. They have three children together.