Billy Connolly special to celebrate comedian’s life as he steps back from stand up

The comedian recently stepped back from stand up.

A new one-off special will celebrate Billy Connolly's life and career, as the comedian steps away from stand up due to his Parkinson's diagnosis. The long-time comedian will remember his career along with friends and family in the new ITV documentary, Billy Connolly: It's Been A Pleasure. Filmed at his Florida home, the one-hour programme will be a "fond, uproariously funny tribute" featuring Connolly's "greatest stand-up moments, unseen performance footage and exclusive chats with some of Billy's biggest famous fans." Paul McCartney, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Aisling Bea, Dustin Hoffman, and Russell Brand are among those set to appear on the show. "Sir Billy Connolly recently announced that he was officially stepping back from live stand-up performance," said ITV. "To mark this major moment in comedy history, this star-studded one-hour special celebrates Billy's anarchic genius and life-affirming brand of humour." "There are also unique new insights from the woman who knows Billy best - his wife and soulmate, Pamela Stephenson." Connolly, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013, said recently that the condition has "made my brain work differently – and you need a good brain for comedy." “I’m finished with stand-up - it was lovely and it was lovely being good at it," he said. "It was the first thing I was ever good at.”