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Billy Connolly reveals how Parkinson's disease has changed his life - and praises wife for support

The star wraps up his career with a special one-off documentary.

Beloved stand-up comedian Billy Connolly is set to wrap up his career with a final one-off documentary exploring his long and difficult battle with Parkinson’s disease .

The Scottish star began treatment for the illness in September 2013 after previously acknowledging he was starting to forget his lines during his live shows.

MORE: 16 celebrities you'd be surprised to know have health battles

In 2019, Billy opened up about his struggle with the illness, and how his diagnosis made him stop performing in an interview with Chris Evans .

Chatting to the Virgin Radio Breakfast Show with Sky, the legendary comedian spoke frankly about the effects of his medication: "I've stopped performing because of my Parkinson's disease and I've stopped touring. I may perform at some other point but I have no plans to. And I'm quite happy taking my medicine and getting along with it."

Billy chatted to Chris about his Parkinson's

He continued: "I've started to drool which is a new one on me. This disease gives you a new thing every now and again that you have to deal with and drooling is my latest. I walk unsteadily and my hearing is going and it's bizarre that bits of me have fallen off but it's interesting."

When Chris asked why performing would affect his health and wellbeing, he explained: " It would affect my performance. I don't think the way I used to, I don't think at the same speed as I used to . And because I don't need to. I don't really know if the performance bit has gone because I have to get into the performance mode to see that. I'd have to walk onto the stage and I've never done that."

READ: Billy Connolly feels his 'life is slipping away' following heartbreaking diagnosis with Parkinson's

MORE: Ross Kemp reveals touching last conversation with Barbara Windsor

Billy and Pamela have been married since 1989

The then-76-year-old also spoke about his future. When Chris asked him if he was worried about it, he replied: "No, I find it interesting and people are good to me, my wife is good to me. She makes me breakfast every day and does my pillows at night. Life is good ."

Listeners were quick to throw their support behind Billy, with one writing: "The best commute I’ve had in years listening to two of the best people ever! @achrisevans and the legend that is Billy Connolly," while another added: "You are the best interviewer on the radio by far. So sensitive to Billy Connolly. Asking that question just made me cry. You allow them to flow and charm. Brilliant."

READ: Billy Connolly reveals his son is suffering from drugs and alcohol addiction

Speaking to The Mirror in December, Billy revealed further insights into how Parkinson’s has shaped his perceptions of himself and others: “It’s taught me to ask for help. That used to bother me but you have to be brave enough to ask ."

He continued: "It enables you to see how nice people are. People are brilliant. It's not because I’m famous. They've often never heard of me. People are basically very nice, given half a chance. It's life-affirming. A lovely thing ."

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Remembering Parky: The biggest stars, the best chat

An incredible stellar line-up for Parkinson’s last ever chat show! S7, E11 An incredible stellar line-up for Parkinson’s last ever chat show!

Michael Parkinson interviews Tom Cruise, Kelly Holmes and Billy Connolly. S1, E1 Michael Parkinson interviews Tom Cruise, Kelly Holmes and Billy Connolly.

Michael Parkinson chats to Ant & Dec, Dame Julie Andrews and Michael Palin. S1, E4 Michael Parkinson chats to Ant & Dec, Dame Julie Andrews and Michael Palin.

Michael Parkinson chats to Ricky Gervais, Kevin Kline and Joanna Lumley. S1, E5 Michael Parkinson chats to Ricky Gervais, Kevin Kline and Joanna Lumley.

Michael Parkinson chats to Sandra Bullock, Peter Kay and Nicholas Lyndhurst. S2, E5 Michael Parkinson chats to Sandra Bullock, Peter Kay and Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Pop sensation Justin Timberlake is in the studio along with Kate Winslet and Jude Law. S5, E6 Pop sensation Justin Timberlake is in the studio along with Kate Winslet and Jude Law.

Michael discusses war with Sir Michael Caine, Tony Bennett joins & Paul Simon closes. S5, E7 Michael discusses war with Sir Michael Caine, Tony Bennett joins & Paul Simon closes.

Michael Parkinson's guests are Peter Kay, Sir Ian McKellen and Take That. S5, E8 Michael Parkinson's guests are Peter Kay, Sir Ian McKellen and Take That.

Dame Judi Dench, Sir Lenny Henry & Katherine Jenkins talk to Michael. S5, E13 Dame Judi Dench, Sir Lenny Henry & Katherine Jenkins talk to Michael.

Parkinson chats to George Michael, Stephen Fry and Joan Rivers. S6, E3 Parkinson chats to George Michael, Stephen Fry and Joan Rivers.

Parkinson chats to Sir David Frost, Michael Palin and Dame Diana Rigg. S7, E1 Parkinson chats to Sir David Frost, Michael Palin and Dame Diana Rigg.

Parkinson chats to Bobby Charlton, Richard Attenborough and Joanna Lumley. S7, E6 Parkinson chats to Bobby Charlton, Richard Attenborough and Joanna Lumley.

Parkinson chats to Ray Winstone, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Daniel Radcliffe. S7, E7 Parkinson chats to Ray Winstone, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Daniel Radcliffe.

• Cast & crew

The Final Conversation

• Episode aired Dec 16, 2007

Michael Parkinson interviews in his Final Conversation Billy Connolly, Michael Caine, David Attenborough. Michael Parkinson interviews in his Final Conversation Billy Connolly, Michael Caine, David Attenborough. Michael Parkinson interviews in his Final Conversation Billy Connolly, Michael Caine, David Attenborough.

• Michael Parkinson
• Billy Connolly
• Michael Caine

• Self - Host

• Self - Guest

• Dame Edna Everage

• All cast & crew
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• December 16, 2007 (United Kingdom)
• United Kingdom
• England, UK
• Granada Productions
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Michael Parkinson felt 'lucky' to repair friendship with Billy Connolly after 'rift'

The late talkshow legend discussed repairing his friendship with Billy Connolly and his plans for his own funeral in a wide-ranging interview on Piers Morgan's Life Stories

• 12:23, 17 Aug 2023

The late Sir Michael Parkinson expressed his delight at being able to repair his friendship with fellow knight Sir Billy Connolly – sharing his joy in what turned out to be one of his last ever interviews in which he described himself as "lucky".

News broke on Thursday that the broadcasting legend had passed away at the age of 88 , with a statement from his family revealing: "After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family." He had been well respected in the broadcasting world for decades due to his celebrated talk shows.

Sir Michael was a guest on Piers Morgan's Life Stories back in June 2019 where he reflected on his life and career. And during his time on the show, he told how he patched things up with 80-year-old Billy, broke up an engagement after falling for his wife and soulmate Mary – and explained how he wants to be remembered after death.

He said of Connolly: “I don't think it was Billy so much as Pamela. I think so. I would never deliberately hurt Billy at all. When I was making the observation I was making, that he'd slowed down a bit, it was not a diagnosis. It was the observation of a friend to another friend.

“It was an awards thing. He was on heavy medication and it got to the stage I was with him. And he made a very softly spoken speech. And then as we were leaving, he stopped me, and put his hands on my shoulder, and said to me 'how long have we known each other?' And I thought, maybe wrongly, that he didn't really know who I was. I could be wrong and I hope I was. I think he was trying to remind himself.

“But look, Billy and I have known each other for years. So I wrote him a letter. I sat down and wrote him a letter and said, 'there is no way in this world I would hurt you, or deliberately demean you' and I got a lovely reply saying 'let's go back to how we were, old friends'.”

Discussing his own wife, Mary Heneghan, who he wed in 1959, the late star said: “I met her on top of a bus. But there was a problem, I was engaged and she was engaged. I know it's terrible. I was on the verge of breaking up, and I think she obviously was too. Well, I don't know. Anyway I went to the hotel in Doncaster, and she was dancing with her boyfriend who was in the RAF and they were playing a song, and I knew the lyrics. So I interrupted them on the dance floor, and asked her to dance. It wasn't the dancing that won her over, I'm not sure what it was actually. But I was smitten by her. No, we didn't stay in touch with ex fiancees. We left. I never went back home.”

Parky reflected on his personal health - having faced challenges including prostate cancer and a back operation - saying: “I have been lucky all my life, I got through it and a lot of people don't. It changed me in many ways, because you think about the possibility you are going to die. I thought about the things I would be missing, the family and the house, cricket. The life I have had.

“I am still clumsy and that will always be. The brain is working OK accept the occasional lapse of memory. I would like to be able to feel a lot stronger, there is a lot to do. I hope my family enjoy life I much as I do. All I know is in my life I got joy from family and the people I met and the jobs I have done. From that point of life I am a fulfilled person.

“Nobody had a more interesting and involving life than I have."

And addressing death directly, he said: “What happens when you die? Nothing. The worms. I am not a religious man. I would like to be buried I think, I know the music I would want, Ella Fitzgerald. a bit of Frank(Sinatra) and a bit of Jazz and all that.

“I just want to be remembered as someone who had a good time, lots of good mates and wrote the odd good piece and did the odd good interview. That's enough.”

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