'My hearing is going': Sir Billy Connolly reveals symptoms of his Parkinson's

Sir Billy Connolly has said he doesn’t plan to return to the stage, six years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The veteran comedian, 76, was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 and announced his retirement from live performance last year.

Sir Billy said he now walks “unsteadily” and that his “hearing is going”.

The Big Yin told The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Virgin Radio that he had no plans to return to the stage.

“I don’t think the way I used to,” he said.

“I may perform at some other point, but I have no plans to. And I’m quite happy taking my medicine and getting along with it.”

The comedian’s career has spanned 60 years, with Sir Billy becoming well known for his energetic and gregarious stage presence.

Parkinson’s disease affects the brain, deteriorating it over many years.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s, according to the NHS, include involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles.

“I’ve started to drool which is a new one on me,” Sir Billy said. “This disease, it gives you a new thing every now and again that you have to deal with, and drooling is my latest.

“I walk unsteadily and my hearing is going and it’s bizarre that bits of me are falling off but it’s interesting.”

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“And steadily more symptoms come and it’s incurable. It’s not going to end. As a matter of fact, I had a Russian doctor in New York who said, ‘You realise this is an incurable disease?’

“And I said, ‘You got to get a grip of yourself, stop calling it an incurable disease, say we have yet to find the cure. Give the guy a light in the tunnel.'”

Sir Billy is looked after by his wife, the columnist and comedian Pamela Stephenson Connolly. The pair have three children together, and Sir Billy has another two children from his first marriage.

Meanwhile, huge projections of Sir Billy have lit up landmarks across Edinburgh and Glasgow to celebrate the launch of his new book.

His face was seen in places such as the Glasgow City Chambers, The Royal Mile and Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall to promote Tall Tales and Wee Stories, which brings together some of Sir Billy’s most iconic stand-up routines.