Billy Connolly has shared his heartbreak over losing his ability to write due to his ongoing battle with Parkinsons.
The comedian is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential stand-up comedians of all time, beginning his career in the early 1970s, singing in a folk band before deciding to focus on comedy.
His physical condition has slowly worsened since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and he retired from live performing five years later.
The brain disorder causes the sufferer to shake and causes difficulty with balancing and coordination and as it progresses it becomes harder to walk and talk.
(Image: ITV)
On The Graham Norton Show, Billy spoke from his home in Florida about his struggles.
“I have lost the ability to write, and it breaks my heart as I used to love writing letters to people.
“My writing went down the Swanny and is totally illegible, so I had to find a way to record everything, but then the recorder didn’t understand my accent so it kept collapsing and my family would have to sort it – it was a club effort!”
(Image: Getty Images)
He continued: “I’m doing okay and have good days and bad days. It’s creeping up on me and it never lets go.
“I walk like a drunk man and have to have help. So, life is different, but it is good.”
Billy spoke during the Edinburgh TV Festival in August this year about his illness: “The challenges lately have been medical. They are getting worse.”
“I will have to weigh it up and see how bad it gets. Play it by ear.”
(Image: Redferns)
The 78 year old Scottish actor was knighted at Buckingham Palace by the Queen in 2017 in honour of services to entertainment and charity.
He has starred in films such as Brave, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies and A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
