Sir Billy Connolly suffers 'serious falls' amid Parkinson's battle
Sir Billy Connolly has been struggling with his balance resulting in “a couple of serious falls” according to his wife Pamela Stephenson.
The comic, who has been battling with Parkinson's disease since 2013, has been open about his struggles with the degenerative disease. He received the diagnosis on the same day as being diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he was later given the all clear on.
The star from live performances five years later, and has stepped back from live comedy and acting which he was well known for. earlier this year he made a rare appearance for the BAFTAs in May, but has since revealed some of his symptoms have deteriorated.
Sir Billy Connolly has been having "a couple of serious falls" according to his wife Pamela Stephenson (AFP via Getty Images)
Sir Billy Connolly was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013 (Getty Images)Speaking to The Guardian alongside his wife Pamela, the Scottish comedian said: "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 added that he thought the issues with balance might go away as he added that "shaking" has also made a reappearance. Wife Pamela added: "The balance issue has been most significant, hasn’t it? Especially since, unfortunately, it resulted in you having a couple of serious falls …"
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In his comedic nature, Sir Billy then joked: "It's funny, that fall I had when I landed on my jaw reminded me of a thing I used to do on stage.I used to say: 'I fell out of bed, but luckily my face broke my fall...'"
Describing Parkinson's as a "cruel disease" Sir Billy also described it as "creeping up" and stopping him from doing simple things like going for a walk, which he now finds tiring. He also described it as "slow moving" but added that it "doesn’t make it any more pleasant."
Sir Billy Connolly made a rare appearance earlier this year at the BAFTAs in May (Getty Images)The struggle of the disease hasn’t been a conversation Connolly has shied away from, admitting in December that year that he .
In a documentary with , he said: "I have to behave in a certain way so my children don't think I'm a dead loss. "They don't feel sorry for me. I want them to think: 'He does well with what he's got.' That's it. Parkinson's Disease has taken a lot from me. I can't play the banjo anymore. It's just a noise. I can't yodel anymore. I can't smoke cigars. It's taken more and more of what I like. It's kind of painful. But you have to have a Glasgow attitude and say: 'Oh, you think you've got me beat? Try this for size.' I just deal with it. If I fall, I fall."
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