Sir Billy Connolly marked the end of his stand-up career with a TV special - prompting stars to pay an emotional tribute to the Big Yin. 

Big names ranging from Dustin Hoffman to Sir Elton John and Whoopi Goldberg paid tribute to his long career. 

The 78-year-old comedian was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013 and announced his decision to retire five years later. 

Following Monday's TV special, It's Been a Pleasure on ITV saw tributes to the Glaswegians career pour in.

A tearful Sheridan Smith, who welcomed her first son Billy in May, revealed she had named him after the comic.

She said: “I named my son after Billy. Did you know that? I’m going to cry.”

READ MORE: Billy Connolly talks ahead of It's Been A Pleasure TV special

Hollywood star Hoffman, who directed Sir Billy in the 2012 film Quartet, held back tears as he said: “I want him to be around for a long, long time.”

And Sir Elton described him as “the first rock star of comedy”.

Speaking from his home in Florida, Sir Billy explained his decision to give up performing.

He said: “I have done my stand-up, I did it for 50 years, I did it quite well and it is time to stop.

“My illness, my Parkinson’s disease, has rendered me different. It would either mean renewing what I do and doing something else, or give up what I did and that’s what I’ve done.

“Why do I like to make people laugh? Because it is a jolly thing, it is good for you and it is good for them.

“It is a dynamite thing to be able to do, to get a laugh out of someone.”

He added: “Since the Parkinson’s I’m still the same in many ways, but I don’t think as sharply as I need to to be a stand-up.

“I’ve done 50 years and that’s plenty. Quitting is the right thing to do.”

The programme prompted fans to wish Sir Billy a “happy retirement” on Twitter.

One said of him: “Comic genius. Happy Retirement Billy! You’ve certainly earned it.”

Another added: “You will never get another comedian like Billy Connolly, one of a kind. Sad hes had to call it a day because of Parkinsons, but what a life.”

A third said: “One of what I’m sure will be many regrets throughout life will be to never see #BillyConnolly perform live. The man is a genius and makes it look so simple!”