'Arise, Sir Billy!' Comedian Connolly becomes a knight as he continues to fight Parkinson's disease which has left him 'shaking uncontrollably'

October 31, 2017

Billy Connolly was officially knighted at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday

Billy Connolly is know officially Sir Billy Connolly after being knighted in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The 74-year-old Scottish comedian was honoured in London for his services to the world of entertainment and for his charity work. 

“And I perform in spite of it. That’s why I put on the song A Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On – just to stick two fingers up to it.

“There’s a whole lot of shaking going on. It’s kind of weird, this instability. The only time it stops is when I’m in bed and then I can’t roll over. I’m like a big log. It’s the first thing I think about in the morning because getting out of bed is quite hard.

“It seems to creep up on everything I like and take it away from me. It’s like being tested: ‘Cope with that, cope with life without your banjo. Now I’m going to make your hand shake so you can’t tie your fishing flies any more’. It’s a weird thing because it stopped me playing the banjo and it stopped me smoking cigars. I’m trying to stay on the light side because the dark side is unthinkable.”

Billy Connolly and his wife Pamela Stephenson attended a reception hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May in 10 Downing Street marking 200 years since Dr James Parkinson's Essay on the Shaking Palsy on Monday (Image: PA)

On Monday, Sir Billy and Lady Pam attended an event at Number 10 Downing street to commemorate the 200th year of the publication of the essays by Dr James Parkinson's Essay on the Shaking Palsy. The condition described was renamed Parkinson's disease by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.“

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/arise-sir-billy-comedian-connolly-11441011