Billy Connolly shows Parkinsons symptoms on BBC documentary as he admits life is slipping away

Billy Connolly has revealed that his life is slipping away as his Parkinsons disease progresses.

The Scottish funny man has admitted that there is no denying it, I am 75, I have got Parkinsons and I am at the wrong end of the telescope of life.

I am at the point where the yesteryears mean more than the yesterdays, he said.

Speaking poignantly on Fridays episode of BBC documentary series Made In Scotland, the second of a two-part series, Billy reflects on his life and tells the camera that he can feel his life slipping away.

I can feel it and I should. Im 75, Im near the end. Im a damn sight nearer the end than I am the beginning. But it doesnt frighten me, its an adventure and it is quite interesting to see myself slipping away.

The Mirror reports that in various parts of the episode Billy asks the cameras to stop rolling as his symptoms become too much, while in one scene his hand is clearly shaking.

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As bits slip off and leave me, talents leave and attributes leave. I dont have the balance I used to have, I dont have the energy I used to have. I cant hear the way I used to hear, I cant see as good as I used to, he added.

I cant remember the way I used to remember. And they all came one at a time and they just slipped away, thank you. It is like somebody is in charge of you and they are saying “right, I added all these bits when you were a youth, now it is time to subtract”.

I cant work my left hand on the banjo, it is as if I am being prepared for something. Some other adventure, which is over the hill. I have got all this stuff to lose first and then I will be the shadowy side of the hill, doing the next episode in the spirit world.

Made In Scotland follows the actor, comedian and musician, as he returns to the country where he was born.

He talks fans through how his upbringing helped influence and motivate him, as well as how he changed careers from being a welder in Glasgow to becoming The Big Yin – a Scottish nickname given to Connolly.

As well as interviews with Billy, the programme features contributions from some of the greatest names in comedy and popular culture.

Billy has been battling the symptoms of Parkinsons disease since mid-2013 but had previously rejected the suggestion that it has dulled his brain.

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The now-76-year-old – who lives in Florida – revealed in early December that his touring days were behind him, with The Guardian declaring it his retirement from live performance.

In the episode Billy references his decision, admitting he hadnt stood anywhere since I got Parkinsons and I discovered that I got kind of rooted to the spot and became afraid to move.

Instead of going all the way to the front of the stage and prowling along the front the way I used to do, I stood where I was, he revealed.

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However the comedian is also shown offering hope, admitting that there is still time to go yet, there are still places to go, new friends to make, maybe new songs to write and sing and jokes to tell.

Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland airs on Friday 4 January on BBC2 at 9pm.

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