No laughing matter! Giant mural of the Big Yin Billy Connolly could disappear to make way for student flats
- The 50ft portrait of iconic Scots comedian unveiled in Glasgow in 2017 to mark the star’s 75th birthday
It has brightened up Glasgow for years and become a tourist attraction in its own right.
But it has now emerged a giant mural of Sir Billy Connolly is set to be removed to make way for student flats.
The 50ft portrait, based on work by artist John Byrne, was unveiled in the city’s Osborne Street in 2017 to mark the Big Yin’s 75th birthday.
Sir Billy, now 80, visited the site and said that seeing the artwork took his ‘breath away’ and had a ‘profound effect’ on him.
The student accommodation proposals have provoked anger among local residents, who say the mural should be protected by council bosses.
Billy Connolly previously said the artwork took his ‘breath away’
Billy Connolly in front of Jack Vettriano’s portrait in mural form in Glasgow’s Dixon Street
Billy Connolly in his prime on stage, left, and with wife and fellow comic Pamela Stephenson
A spokesman for the Merchant City and Trongate Community Council, which has lodged an official objection to the plans, said: ‘Many of Glasgow’s murals are major tourist attractions, admired not only by residents but visitors from all around the world.’
A spokesman for developers Nova Living said: ‘We looked at ways to retain the mural, regrettably this will not be possible.’
Glasgow City Council is due to make a decision on the planning application in the coming weeks.