Sir Billy Connolly is walking out for a walk near his Florida home

by

Sir Billy Connolly, 78, takes a walk near his Florida home as he prepares to bid farewell to a 50-year standing career amid the battle of Parkinson’s

  • He prepared to be pulled off the stage – which will be featured in a one-off ITV special – by campaigning for a walk with his pet dog on Sunday.
  • The famous Scottish actress, 78, was spotted outside Florida’s home which he shares with wife Pamela Stephenson just over a day before the farewell show with Billy Connolly: It’s Been A Pleasure, on December 28

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

He is about to pull the curtains on a distinguished career, which will last for decades as he continues his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

And Sir Billy Connolly prepared to pull him off the stage – which will be featured in a one-off ITV special – by campaigning for a walk with his pet dog on Sunday.

The famous Scottish comedian, 78, was spotted outside Florida’s home he shares with wife Pamela Stephenson just over a day before the farewell to Billy Connolly: It’s Been A Pleasure, on December 28 .

Lead: Sir Billy Connolly came out of his Florida home on Sunday as he prepared for a farewell with his career in ITV’s new one-off special

Adhering to current safety guidelines, Connolly had a protective face covering his dog outside the Key West building.

The comedian was still wearing pajama underwear under a black T-shirt while holding the family pet firmly on his leash as they went out into the street.

The appearance comes after Connolly thought ‘quitting’ his 50-year standing position was ‘the right thing to do’.

Precaution: According to current safety guidelines Connolly had a protective face covering his dog outside the Key West building

Precaution: According to current safety guidelines Connolly had a protective face covering his dog outside the Key West building

He told the Mirror: ‘Since Parkinson’s Disease I am still the same in many ways, but I don’t think how sharp I have to stand, I have done 50 years and that’s enough. Quitting is the right thing to do. ‘

Connolly went on to explain that he has no regrets or complaints about his remarkable career, saying he has been ‘damn luck’ in everything he has achieved.

He continued: ‘I achieved everything I wanted, I played everywhere I wanted … I did everything.’

Connolly, known as the Big Yin all his life, also said that his Parkinson’s Disease has given him life lessons about people, as strangers are always quick to offer him help if he needs it.

Casual: The comedian would still wear his pajama boots under a black T-shirt while holding the family pet tied to his leash as they went out into the street

Casual: The comedian would still wear his pajama boots under a black T-shirt while holding the family pet tied to his leash as they went out into the street

The comedian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2013 and revealed he was retiring from stand-up comedy earlier this year due to degenerative disease.

Parkinson’s is a condition in which parts of the brain are gradually damaged over several years.

The one-time Billy Connolly: It’s Been A Pleasure show features the comedian’s greatest stand-ups, unprecedented performance shots and exclusive conversations with some of Billy’s most famous fans.

All in all: Connolly draws the curtains on a prestigious, decades-over-decades standing course in Billy Connolly's special ITV special Monday: It's Been A Pleasure Monday night (pictured on stage in the 1980s)

All in all: Connolly draws the curtains on a prestigious, decades-over-decades staging course in Billy Connolly’s ITV special Monday: It’s Been A Pleasure Monday night (pictured on stage in the 1980s)

Emerging from his home in Florida, he will be joined by guests including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Sir Lenny Henry, Dustin Hoffman and Russell Brand.

Whoopi Goldberg, Aisling Bea and Sheridan Smith will also appear in the documentary to commemorate Billy’s legendary role on stage.

ITV representatives said: ‘Sir Billy Connolly recently announced that he was officially stepping back from a live performance.

Full stars: Guests will include Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Sir Lenny Henry, Dustin Hoffman and Russell Brand

Full stars: Guests will include Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Sir Lenny Henry, Dustin Hoffman and Russell Brand

WHAT IS A PARKINSON USE?

Parkinson’s affects one in 500 people, and around 127,000 people in the UK live with the condition.

Figures also show that millions of Americans are suffering as well.

It causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, unbalanced quality of life and can lead to severe disability.

It is a progressive neurological condition that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement.

Victims are known to have reduced dopamine supply because nerve cells that cause it have died.

There is currently no cure and no way to stop the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific experiments are underway to try to change that.

To mark this pivotal moment in comedy history, this special one-hour program celebrates Billy’s anarchic excellence and life-affirming humor.

‘There are also some unique new scenes from Billy’s best known wife – his wife and soul mate, Pamela Stephenson.’

His A-list fans share their memories of Billy, send him personal messages and select the best events from his glorious comedy catalog. The individual will respond to their preferences and reveal their preferences. ‘

‘Billy Connolly: It’s Been A Pleasure’ is a definitive celebration of excellence. An exciting, emotional and humorous time in the company of the legendary Big Yin at its best. It will make you smile. It may make you cry. Appropriate output for standing megastar. ‘

.Source