Billy Connolly reveals he is ‘doing just dandy’ despite Parkinson’s battle

Despite his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease, beloved comedian and actor Billy Connolly has recently revealed that he is “doing great” as he continues his positive outlook on life.

In 2013, Billy Connolly publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The progressive neurodegenerative disorder affects the nervous system and can lead to tremors, rigidity, and difficulty with movement and coordination.

Despite the challenges, Connolly has remained upbeat in the face of his condition which was evident in his latest interview with the Daily Star, where he discussed his life with Parkinson’s.

“There’s people doing a lot worse than me and I’m doing just dandy,” he revealed.

“I’m just grateful that only the left side shakes. I think I’m doing great.

“I think I’m walking great today and I’m handling the trolley out shopping well, picking things up great and not staggering.

“Then I go to the checkout and they say, ‘Would you like a bit of help to car?’ And I think, ‘God, they’ve spotted there’s something wrong with me.’”

In addition to reflecting on his diagnosis, Connolly recently spoke about the process of getting older referring to it simply as “the next part”.

In an interview with The Sunday Post, Connolly revealed his secret to ageing well is remaining “excited by things” well into your later years.

“I’ve spent a great deal of my life being a boy, being excited by things, and it has done me good,” Connolly told the publication.

“I would always go for the gaudy guitar and the banjo with a picture on the skin. I’ve never recovered from that and I have no intention of doing so.

“I know lots of people who are dead and they don’t know it. They haven’t had a funeral. They’re just dead. They’ve given up. They don’t get excited by anything any more. They dress like the complainer. You become the guy who goes next door and complains about the balls coming in over his hedge into the garden. And it’s a sad thing. I’ve seen it happening to really nice people and it’s a dreadful trap to fall into.”

Connolly says he has accepted the parts of life that come with getting older and that “growing old is simply growing old”.

“Getting grey, hair falling out. Mine’s going like hell just now, falling out. I don’t enjoy it but it’s a part of life. It’s the next part,” he said.

Connolly’s comments come only a few months after he celebrated his milestone 80th birthday, delighting fans with a surprise appearance at his local Glasgow cafe.

The comedian stopped in at Jessie Biscuit in Milngavie on Thursday, November 24, 2022, and much like many of Connolly’s recent outings, the cafe owners took to social media to celebrate the comedian’s arrival.

“A special day for a special man THE BIG YIN!” the cafe owners wrote.

“Thank you for choosing to come back to Jessie biscuit to celebrate your 80th birthday.

“From everyone at Jessie Biscuit a huge HAPPY 8️⃣0️⃣ BIRTHDAY SIR BILLY CONNOLLY.”