Billy does an 'Elton'

Billy Connolly unleashed a foul-mouthed rant yesterday when he was asked to apologise over "jokes" he made about British hostage Ken Bigley.

The comedian let rip at Heathrow Airport when quizzed by reporters.

Connolly was asked to explain comments he made about Mr Bigley during a stand-up show at the Carling Apollo in Hammersmith.

During his performance the Glaswegian comic was booed and heckled after telling the audience: "Perhaps I shouldn't be saying this ... aren't you the same as me, don't you wish they would just get on with it?"

He went on to crack a joke about 62-year-old Mr Bigley's wife Sombat, saying: "What is it with him and that young Asian wife?"

Yesterday, after flying into Heathrow from Belfast, he was asked for his reaction to the outcry.

He told a TV reporter he had nothing to say, adding: "Don't you feel like a bit of a ******* parasite sometimes? You're ******* slime," the Daily Express reported.

Connolly then told the newsmen to "go away and hassle Elton," referring to Sir Elton John's recent airport rant in Taiwan when the singer shouted at photographers, telling them they were "Rude, vile pigs.".