Billy Connolly 'fed up' about Parkinson's and misses performing 'terribly'
The comedian said that his life has changed 'radically' since his diagnosis
Sir Billy Connolly has admitted he gets “fed up” with Parkinson’s and that he misses "terribly" the chance to cheer himself up on stage.
The Scottish comedian, 80, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition in 2013.
Opening up on Radio 4 he said his diagnosis had changed his life “radically” and told how much he missed performing.
Read more: Sir Billy Connolly says he is not 'slipping away' after all
The star has quit touring, although he hasn’t said that he has given up live performances.
But he explained: “I haven’t done it and I don’t have any intention of doing it. I may at some future time be talked into it, I don’t know, I don’t think so.
“What I miss is the chance to make your day great.
“No matter how your day is going, when you go on stage you are going to have a great day. It’s going to make your day smashing.
“And it’s a thing I miss terribly, is the ability to cheer myself up.”
Discussing the physical impact of the condition, Connolly said his wife has to dress him and that he experiences shaking and now walks with a stick.
"At the airports I have to get the wheelchair," he said.
"I hate being dependent to that degree.
“And I feel sorry for other people who are in wheelchairs and who are worse than me.
“But it’s a thing I just have to put up with.”
The star continued: “My wife puts my clothes on in the morning.
"It’s not very manly, your mum puts your clothes on.
“I am clumsy and I lose my balance and I’m out of balance a lot. And I fall. I’m fed up with it.”
The star said he thinks he generally has a “good attitude” to it, explaining: “I say to the disease, ‘I’ll give you a break if you give me a break’.”
Connolly also shared that his memory is short and that he forgot the name of one of his dogs when he was out walking it, joking that he felt “embarrassed" for his pet.
Read more: Billy Connolly says 'peculiar' Parkinson's disease has left him unable to play instruments
But he also insisted that “most things can be conquered, especially the depression”.
According to the NHS website, Parkinson’s is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. Symptoms include involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles.
Watch: Sir Billy Connolly says 'good days outnumber the bad days' in Parkinson's battle
