Billy Connolly: 'I think about death everyday'

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The beloved comedian, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nine years ago, was the subject of ITV documentary ‘Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure’. The programme, which was first broadcast on Boxing Day, sees Sir Billy invite a film crew to his newly adopted home of Florida Keys. The Scottish comedian gives a unique insight into the life he has led since his decision to take a step back from performing comedy.

Sir Billy was first treated for Parkinson’s symptoms nine years ago, after he started forgetting his lines during performances.

In 2018, he revealed that his symptoms were getting worse and had forced him to retire from live standup comedy after a five decade career.

In ‘Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure’, the 79-year-old admitted that he thought about death “every day” after Parkinson’s continued to have an impact on his life.

He said: “I think about death a lot. Not an excessive amount.

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“I think about it every day. I’ve seen people die, and it’s okay.

“It’s not painful. You just go away. You exhale and it’s gone.

“It’s nothing to be frightened of. It’s just the next step.”

Sir Billy rose to fame during the Seventies, after a now infamous appearance on Michael Parkinson’s flagship BBC chat show. 

The Glasgow-born comic went on to pioneer the alternative comedy scene in the UK, while in later life he also became a prolific actor, receiving a Bafta nomination for his performance in ‘Mrs Brown’.

However, in 2018, Sir Billy announced he would no longer be touring as a comedian as the symptoms of Parkinson’s began to take hold. 

The disease causes decreased mobility and difficulty speaking.

Sir Billy said: “Parkinson’s disease has taken a lot from me.

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“I can’t play the banjo anymore. It’s just a noise.

“Most of the things I like to do ‒ I can’t yodel anymore. I used to like yodeling. 

“I can’t smoke cigars anymore. As it goes along it’s taken more and more of what I like and it’s kind of painful.

“But you have to have a Glasgow attitude and say ‘You think you’ve got me beat? Try this for size’.

“I just deal with it. If I fall, I fall.”

Sir Billy is married to New Zealand writer and performer Pamela Stephenson Connolly and the couple have three children together.

He also has two children from his first marriage to interior designer Iris Pressagh, and the comedian admitted that his children had motivated him to battle his Parkinson’s symptoms.

Speaking in the ITV documentary, he added: “I have to behave in a certain way so my children don’t think I’m a dead loss, so they don’t feel sorry for me.

“I want them to think ‘he does well with what he’s got’. That’s it.”

Catch up with Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure on ITV Hub.

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