Billy Connolly’s wife says he has had ‘serious falls’ following balance issues

By Hannah Roberts, PA Entertainment Reporter

Billy Connolly’s wife Pamela Stephenson has said that the comic had “a couple of serious falls” after they noticed his balance was deteriorating.

Scottish comedian Connolly (80) was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago on the same day he found out he had prostate cancer, which he later received the all clear on.

The comic spoke about the degenerative disease with his spouse Stephenson for an article in The Guardian, and 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.

“For some reason, I thought it would go away, because a lot of symptoms have come and gone away … just to defy the symptom spotters.

“The shaking has reappeared…”

Stephenson added: “The balance issue has been most significant, hasn’t it? Especially since, unfortunately, it resulted in you having a couple of serious falls …”

Connolly responded: “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…’ It’s just added to the list of things that hold me back.

“I feel like I want to go for a walk, but I go for 50 yards and I want to go home, because I’m tired. I’m being encroached upon by this disease.

“It’s creeping up behind me and stopping me doing things. It’s a cruel disease.”

Stephenson said that the disease has been “pretty slow-moving” to which Connolly said: “Really, really slow-moving, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant.”

The couple spoke about how their relationship has changed since the comedian was diagnosed and Sir Billy said that his wife now dresses him in the morning, mentioning that he has “to get lifts everywhere” as he “can’t drive any more”.

Connolly also talked about what it has been like to stop travelling as much following the various lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “It’s been brilliant! It’s been one of the great surprises of my life! I was told to stay home, I did it and I loved it. Even my dogs loved it.

“Although we were very lucky because we live on a canal, so we could go for walks in a tropical paradise.”

Stephenson added: “And even now … for example, two nights ago you were sitting fishing just outside your back door.

“The higher the sea level rises, the closer the fishing’s going to be … so you’ll soon be a fishing Rambling Man without even leaving the house.”

Connolly responded: “There’s something in my Scottish nature that makes me look forward to global warming: High f****** time!”