COMEDIAN Billy Connolly yesterday said he was “desperately sad” at reports of the death of Kenneth Bigley - days after being criticised for making jokes about his plight.

AFTER a career spent working across the globe and a life punctuated with heartache, Kenneth Bigley hoped Iraq would be his last posting before he settled into happy retirement at a new home in Bangkok.

Comic Billy Connolly’s decision to joke about the plight of Kenneth Bigley during a stand-up routine prompted a curt response from the British hostage’s brother today.

The Thai wife of kidnapped British engineer Ken Bigley today vowed will become a Buddhist nun for three days if her prayers for his safe return are answered.

Lil Bigley, the 86-year-old mother of captive Ken Bigley, was taken to hospital again this afternoon.

THE British and Iraqi governments said yesterday they would not bow to the demands of militants threatening to kill a British hostage, despite a video message from the captive pleading for his life.

The wife of British hostage Ken Bigley, who is being held in Iraq, made an emotional plea to his kidnappers for mercy today after two of his American colleagues were beheaded.

A journalist in northeastern Thailand sprayed rival reporters with bullets over allegations of bribe-taking.