Billy Connolly Says He’s “Not Dying”, Apologises For Alarming Comments

Billy Connolly

Beloved actor and comedian Billy Connolly has said that he is sorry for “depressing” his fans with recent comments about the state of his health, and posted a video to assure the world that he is not dying, as has been widely reported.

The 76-year-old who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, made headlines after his appearance in the two-part BBC documentary Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland, in which he said “I’m near the end but it doesn’t frighten me.”

A video posted earlier today to wife Pamela Stephenson‘s Twitter account sees Connolly sitting by the water, happily plucking a banjo. “Not dying, not dead, not slipping away,” he tells viewers. “Sorry if I depressed you. Maybe I should have phrased it better.”

In the documentary, Connolly spoke at length about the combined effects of ageing and his disease, saying that his ability to play banjo had suffered and that he is preparing for the next episode of his life in the “spirit world.” He added:

“I’m near the end but it doesn’t frighten me. It’s an adventure, and it’s quite interesting to see myself slipping away. Bits slip off and leave me. Talents leave and attributes leave. I don’t have the balance I used to have; I don’t have the energy I used to have; I can’t hear the way I used to hear; I can’t see as good as I used to. I can’t remember the way I used to remember.”

The replies to the Tweet have been flooded with grateful responses from fans, grateful that Billy Connolly is happy and thanking him for putting their minds at ease.

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