The Glasgow comedian and actor Billy Connolly has backed Aberdeen's bid to be named UK City of Culture in 2017.

Connolly has a house in Candacraig, Aberdeenshire, and spends time in the city.

He said: "Aberdeen becoming UK City of Culture would be a great thing.

"In addition to its many other cultural attributes, the heritage of traditional music and ballads in Aberdeen and the north-east is outstanding and deserves wider recognition. I hope this can be achieved."

Stuart MacBride, the award-winning author behind the Aberdeen-set Logan McRae novels, also added his backing. He said: "Many people seem to think culture in Scotland only happens in Edinburgh and Glasgow – that everywhere else is just mountains, tartan, whisky and shortbread – but this is an opportunity to show there's a lot more going on."

Last week the noted musician Dame Evelyn Glennie supported Aberdeen's bid.

The first step is for the bid team to submit a 30-page document to the Department for Culture Media and Sport by April 30.