“He’s Not the Same Anymore…” – Peter Kay’s Heartbreaking Update on Sir Billy Connolly.n

For decades, Sir Billy Connolly was the man who shook theatres with laughter, the untouchable giant of British comedy whose energy felt limitless and whose voice could silence a room before detonating it with joy.

Now, at 83, the man once known as “The Big Yin” is walking more slowly — and according to his closest friend Peter Kay, he is no longer the same.

Speaking with quiet grief at an intimate event at Salford’s Lyric Theatre, Peter delivered a small sentence that carried devastating weight:

“I still hear from Billy now and then… but he’s not in a great place anymore. He still sends messages occasionally… but he’s not the same.”

Those words landed softly — and broke hearts instantly.

The Walking Stick That Said Everything

Last month, fans who caught sight of Billy at a rare public appearance noticed something that spoke louder than any announcement: a walking stick in his hand.

It was a silent signal of how far Parkinson’s disease — first diagnosed in 2013 — has progressed.

For those who grew up watching Connolly dominate stages with wild hair, fearless storytelling and unstoppable physical comedy, the image felt unreal. A legend once impossible to slow… now visibly battling his body with every step.

“So Many of Us Wouldn’t Be Here Without Him”

Peter Kay, now 52, didn’t just speak as a friend — but as a comedian shaped by Billy’s shadow.

“So many comedians in this country wouldn’t be doing what they do without him,” Peter said.
“His influence is massive. Truly extraordinary.”

It wasn’t praise.
It was truth.

In his 2023 book TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen, Peter revealed just how intimidating Billy’s presence once felt. When he discovered he’d be appearing on Parkinson alongside David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine, Sir David Attenborough — and Sir Billy Connolly — panic set in.

“How could I possibly sit next to Billy Connolly? He’s one of the greatest comedians who’s ever lived.”

Even Peter Kay once feared being funny in the same room as him.

From Global Stages to Quiet Battles

Beyond stand-up, Billy’s legacy stretched across cinema and television — with more than 50 film roles including Mrs Brown and The Last Samurai. He officially retired from stand-up in 2018, though he continued to make documentaries for a time.

On medical advice, he left New York for Florida — the warmth believed to ease his condition. Yet Parkinson’s still took cruel pieces of his life:

His banjo

His beloved cigars

Even the ability to hide the illness from his children in the early days

And still, he tried to laugh through it.

“I Walk With a Stick Because I Have a Horrible Illness”

At the Key West Film Festival, Billy addressed the crowd not from a stage — but from his seat, walking stick resting beside him.

“I walk with a stick because I suffer from a horrible illness,” he told them plainly.
“But it’s a joy to live among you… and it’s a joy to be here tonight.”

Presented with an award by Steve Buscemi and Aidan Quinn, he joked that he didn’t even know what the blue trophy stood for — only that it would take its place beside his others.

Even now, the humor survives.

He even laughed about the “absolutely awful trousers” his wife had convinced him to wear.

Two Friends, Two Battles

While speaking of Billy’s decline, Peter also quietly reflected on his own long health struggles. On BBC Radio 2, he joked about spending 48 years trying to get fit — through diets, gyms, workout videos, and every fitness trend imaginable.

“Men just talking to you while completely naked,” he said of changing rooms — delivering the joke… but behind it, the honesty remained.

Two comedians.
Two bodies changed by time.
Two very different, very human fights.

A Giant Who Walks Slower — But Still Towers Over Comedy

Today, Sir Billy Connolly may walk with caution. His voice may be softer. His steps may be slower.

But his shadow still stretches across British culture.

Peter Kay’s update carried no drama — only truth, respect, and quiet devastation. A reminder that even legends are not immune to time… but their impact is.

Billy Connolly may no longer roar across the stage.
But his laughter still echoes — inside every comedian who ever dared to follow him.