Comedian Peter Kay has delivered a sombre update on the health of his friend and comedy icon, Sir Billy Connolly, who continues his long battle with Parkinson's disease.
A Difficult Update from a Fellow Comic
Speaking in a new interview at London's Lyric Theatre, Kay, 52, shared that he remains in contact with the 82-year-old legend, but admitted his condition has declined. "I still keep in touch with Billy Connolly now and he's not so good now, but he would still message and that," Kay revealed. He went on to pay a powerful tribute, stating, "I think a lot of comedians in this country would not be doing what they did if it weren't for him. I think so much of it is influenced by him, heavily. Amazing."
Connolly's Public Fight and Private Struggle
Sir Billy, affectionately known as the 'Big Yin', was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition in 2013 and retired from live performance five years later in 2018. While he has largely retreated from public life, he made a rare appearance just last month. He was the guest of honour at the Key West Film Festival in Florida, where he accepted an award for artistic excellence.
Supporting himself with a walking stick, the Glaswegian comedian left the audience in fits of laughter despite his visible challenges. In an emotional moment, he addressed the crowd: "I walk with a stick because I suffer from a horrible illness. It’s a joy to live among you and it’s a joy to be among you tonight."
The Progressive Nature of Parkinson's
In a health update given last year, Connolly described the experience of being unwell as "strange", feeling out of step with a world where everyone else seems okay. The disease's progression has brought new difficulties. In an interview conducted by his wife, Pamela Stephenson, he admitted his balance has significantly worsened, leading to what she termed "a couple of serious falls."
He explained the unpredictable nature of his symptoms: "It's very difficult to see the progression exactly, because a lot of things come and go. Recently I've noticed a deterioration in my balance. That was never such a problem before, but in the last year that has come and it has stayed." He also noted the return of tremors, saying, "The shaking has reappeared."
Billy Connolly's journey from welder in the Glasgow shipyards to global comedy superstar remains one of British entertainment's most remarkable stories. His shift from folk singer to comedian, after realising audiences preferred his between-song banter, led to an era-defining career in the 1970s. His anarchic humour propelled him to international fame, followed by success in film and television. Today, the thoughts of the nation are with him as he faces this profound health challenge with characteristic resilience.
