Worried about me? Parky’s been selling funerals too long!
Big Yin fires back after comments about his health
IT was the talk show that helped propel Scots comedian Sir Billy Connolly to international stardom – and cemented an unlikely friendship with host Sir Michael Parkinson.
But the knighted duo have since become embroiled in a very public spat over comments made about the Big Yin’s debilitating Parkinson’s disease.
Sir Billy hit back for the first time yesterday over his erstwhile friend’s claims that the disease had ‘dulled’ the comedian’s brain.
The Scot, who revealed that he had Parkinson’s disease in 2013, blasted Sir Michael for his ‘s **** y’ comments after a meeting at the GQ awards two years ago.
Sir Michael, 83, described an ‘awkward dinner’ he had with the stand-up, claiming the star no longer recognised him.
The 76-year-old Glaswegian responded with a scathing put-down of the former talk show host for ‘selling funerals for too long’ – a reference to Parky fronting a TV advert for insurance aimed at over-50s.
Sir Billy said: ‘It was two years since I’d seen him and that occasion was the GQ dinner and I did really well, so what he was talking about I’ll never know.
‘He’s been selling funerals [funeral plans] too long.
‘But the thing that got me about it was what if it was true? It’s still a s **** y thing to do. “What do you think of Billy Connolly?” “Oh, he’s f ***** ”.’
When asked if they have spoken since, he added: ‘No, I don’t speak to him normally anyway.’
Sir Billy’s wife Pamela Stephenson Connolly also lashed out at the TV presenter, calling him a ‘daft old fart’ after he claimed that her husband’s ‘wonderful brain’ was dulled by the degenerative neurological disease.
Sir Michael made the comments on Saturday Morning with James Martin on ITV in August, saying: ‘The sadness of Billy now is that wonderful brain is dulled.
‘I saw him recently – he’s now living in America – and it was very sad, because I was presenting him with a prize at an award ceremony.’
He went on: ‘We had an awkward dinner together because I wasn’t quite sure if he knew who I was or not. He turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders. He said to me, “How long have we known each other?” I thought, “Oh God, he doesn’t really know me”.’
Despite already being a big name in Scotland, Connolly went on to enjoy national and international success after he appeared on BBC’s Parkinson show in 1975.
The pair went on to become friends following 15 appearances on the show, with Sir Billy saying it ‘changed my entire life’.
Talking about his disease, the now-retired comedian admitted he sometimes struggled to get out of bed but said he was still in good health and enjoyed walking and even boxing at a gym near his home in Florida.
The comic-turned-artist said: ‘It frustrates me sometimes when I can’t get out of bed.
‘When it’s a great effort to get my legs out of bed, I go, “Arghhh!”
‘And I have got these big handles on my bed that go under the mattress and so you can pull yourself around. And out!’
However, Sir Billy insisted that he refuses to ‘surrender’ to the condition or indeed old age.
He said: ‘That’s a terrible thing, acting your age.
‘You mustn’t act your age. Act some other b **** r’s age. You must stay alive.
‘That’s imperative. Don’t do what a lot of people do: surrender to old age and start to wear old guys’ clothes.’
Earlier this month he appeared to draw a line under his time as a touring stand-up comedian, admitting that art is now his life.
Unveiling a collection of his drawings in Glasgow, the Big Yin revealed he had ‘had his fill’ of touring.