COMEDY legend Sir Billy Connolly has revealed his son has been battling a drug and alcohol addiction.

The Glaswegian star said Jamie, 50, had a problem while visiting recovering addicts in West Virgina as part of his new ITV travel series Billy Connolly's Great American Trail. 

The Big Yin, who had Jamie with first wife Iris Pressagh, said his son had been to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) to get help and support.

The 76-year-old, who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease, also said there was a lack of understanding and compassion shown towards those with addiction problems, according to The Daily Record. 

He said: "My son has a problem and he's in AA and NA.

"He told me when he went to the detox place some kids were being let out and they were back on the stuff before they got to the railway station. It's so powerful.

"People who don't know about it say 'why do they take it, just say no'. 'Just stop and you'll be better'. Duh. It's extraordinary."

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During the show, he addressed workers and those getting treatment at the Southern West Virginia Fellowship Home. 

He said: "You do grand work.

"Anytime they speak about this stuff they talk about it like people are losers and they are dying all over the place. They never talk about this, about people pulling themselves up and getting on with it."

He added: "Make no mistake, this is a middle and working-class crisis. The scale of addiction is industrial. There are now over a million and a half Americans addicted to medical and illegal opioids.

"The numbers are terrifying. It's a national tragedy."

Connolly, who gave up drinking 35 years ago, said he had smoked cannabis but had no experience of harder drugs.

He said: "I know nothing about the whole drug thing. I've smoked a little dope but I've never been deeply involved in it."

He then joked: "I don't shake because I'm in need of a fix, I shake because I've got Parkinson's disease."