Peter Kay has offered a moving and deeply emotional update on the health of his longtime friend and comedy legend Sir Billy Connolly, revealing that the 83-year-old is now noticeably weaker as his long fight with Parkinson’s disease continues.
The Phoenix Nights star, who has recently spoken openly about his own health struggles, shared the sad news after Billy was seen using a walking stick at a public appearance last month — a moment that quietly signaled how much his condition has progressed.
“He’s Not the Same Anymore”
Speaking during a conversation with Sara Cox at an event held at Salford’s Lyric Theatre, Peter, 52, admitted that although they still keep in contact, things have changed.
“I still hear from Billy now and then,” Peter said softly. “But he’s not in a great place anymore. He still sends messages occasionally… but he’s not the same.”
Peter went on to reflect on just how much Connolly shaped British comedy as we know it today.
“So many comedians in this country wouldn’t be doing what they do without him,” he said. “His influence is massive. Truly extraordinary.”
The Legend Who Once Made Giants Tremble
In 2023, Peter opened up further about Billy’s impact on his own career in his book TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen. He recalled the moment he was invited onto Michael Parkinson’s iconic talk show and discovered who he would be sitting alongside.
“When I heard the lineup was David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine, Sir David Attenborough… and Sir Billy Connolly, I panicked,” Peter wrote.
“How could I possibly sit next to Billy Connolly? He’s one of the greatest comedians who’s ever lived.”
Peter admitted he worried about even being funny in Billy’s presence.
“Our styles weren’t that different,” he said. “So I had to figure out a way to be myself without stepping anywhere near his shadow.”
A Career That Spanned Comedy, Cinema, and Generations
Beyond stand-up, Billy Connolly built an extraordinary acting career, appearing in more than 50 films, including Mrs Brown and The Last Samurai. He officially retired from stand-up comedy in 2018 but continued creating television documentaries.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, Billy later relocated from New York to Florida on medical advice to benefit from the warmer climate.
Over the years, he has spoken openly about the cruel losses brought by the illness — from no longer being able to play the banjo to giving up cigars, and even hiding his condition from his children in its early stages.
“I Walk With a Stick Because I Have a Horrible Illness”
Last month, Billy made a rare public appearance at the Key West Film Festival, where he arrived with a walking stick and addressed the crowd from his seat rather than the stage.
“I walk with a stick because I suffer from a horrible illness,” he told the audience honestly.
“But it’s a joy to live among you, and it’s a joy to be here tonight.”
Presented with an award by actors Steve Buscemi and Aidan Quinn, Billy joked that he wasn’t even sure what the blue trophy represented — only that it would sit proudly alongside his other honors.
And true to form, even illness hasn’t stolen his humor. He laughed about the “absolutely awful trousers” his wife had persuaded him to wear for the occasion.
Peter Kay Also Opens Up About His Own Health Journey
During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 2, Peter reflected on his long and often humorous battle with weight and fitness.
“It only took me the first 48 years of my life,” he quipped.
He admitted to trying everything — weight-loss clubs, workout videos, gyms, aerobics classes — before finally giving up many of them for one very British reason.
“Men just talking to you while completely naked,” he joked about gym changing rooms.
A Legend Who Walks Slower — But Still Casts a Giant Shadow
Today, Sir Billy Connolly may walk more slowly and speak more carefully, but his impact on comedy, storytelling, and British culture remains towering.
Peter Kay’s words carried both sorrow and reverence — a quiet acknowledgment that time and illness may be slowing a giant, but they can never erase what he gave the world.
Billy may no longer be the unstoppable force of the stage…
but his spirit, legacy, and influence still echo through every generation of comedians who followed.