Pamela Stephenson last night gave an audience in Glasgow a fascinating insight into the life of one of Scotland's best-loved comedians.

The award-winning author, psychotherapist, wife, and muse of Billy Connolly was discussing her new book Bravemouth at a special event organised by The Herald at the city's Centre for Contemporary Arts.

She detailed his jet-setting lifestyle, his visits to Jeffrey Archer in prison, and his hectic family life.

"In common with many Scottish men, Billy views cooking, child-rearing, and things like that as being very manly. He is a far better cook than me," she said.

"Every Christmas, he still makes me a clootie dumpling. He is also brilliant with babies."

Of his continuing love affair with Scotland, she said: "People in America love to hear about Scotland. They think Billy is hilarious and he knows how to describe Glasgow and Scotland and people love hearing about that.

"He is so unusual. They have never met anyone quite like that."

More than half a million copies of Stephenson's first book, Billy, were sold by December 2002, knocking JK Rowling from the top of the annual best-seller list for the first time in three years.

The book was previously a hit in 2001 when issued in hardback and was named Book of the Year 2001 at the British Book Awards.