Sir Billy Connolly will lead the New York City Tartan Day Parade this year, it has been announced.
The famed Scottish comedian will lead the parade as Grand Marshal on Saturday April 6 in front of around 30,000 spectators.
Around 1,500 participants including solo pipers and drummers, Highland dancers, pipe bands, Scottish clans and Scottish dogs will follow the Big Yin along Manhattan's Sixth Avenue.
The 76-year-old, who has lived in the US since 2011, has accepted the role despite announcing in December he would retire from touring.
Sir Billy said: "I'm thrilled to be this year's Grand Marshal of the New York City Tartan Day Parade.
"I can't wait to hear all those bagpipes echoing off the skyscrapers and to see Sixth Avenue awash with thousands of swaying kilts.
"It's going to be brilliant."
Previous Grand Marshals include Sir Sean Connery, Alan Cumming, Sam Heughan and Brian Cox, while KT Tunstall became the first woman to lead the parade last year.
It is the showpiece event of Tartan Week which brings a full programme of special events to New York from April 3-8.
Kilt fittings, band performances, dance workshops and ceilidhs will be held in various venues across Manhattan.
Kyle Dawson, New York Tartan Day Committee president, said: "We're beyond delighted to announce that Billy Connolly will join us as Grand Marshal of this year's New York City Tartan Day Parade this April.
"For over half a century, he has entertained us all through his work and, because of this, he is beloved on both sides of the pond.
"We look forward to enjoying a big year with the Big Yin."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here