Entertainment
‘Wee jab – nae bother!’ Sir Billy Connolly receives second Covid vaccination with ‘relieved’ wife
Sir Billy Connolly’s wife has shared her relief as the iconic comedian received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine this week.
The star affectionately known as the Big Yin – who is based in the US – got his first dose of the Covid-19 jab last month and now he’s well on his way to building immunity from the disease.
Sir Billy’s wife Pamela Stephenson shared a photo of the star, who has Parkinson’s, calmly holding his sleeve up as he received the vaccination.
Cool as a cucumber, Stephenson wrote on Twitter the 78-year-old joked ‘Wee jab – nae bother’ in true Sir Billy fashion after being given the innoculation at their local supermarket.
Alongside the image of Sir Billy wearing his mask during the procedure, she wrote: ‘Billy just had his second Covid 19 vaccination! We waited our turn and received them at our local Publix supermarket.
‘So relieved he has some protection now! He said “Wee jab – nae bother!”‘
Forget ‘hands, face, space’, the Government slogan should now be, ‘Wee jab – nae bother!’
Last month Stephenson shared a similar shot of Sir Billy receiving the first dose of the vaccination, as she wrote: ‘Thank God… Billy had his first Covid vaccine today!’
At the time Sir Billy joined a cast of famous faces including actress Dame Judi Dench, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actor Sir Ian McKellen, Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith and entertainer Lionel Blair in having received the vaccine.
Earlier this week it was announced more than 15million people in the UK had received the Covid-19 vaccination, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously pledging that the Government would reach the target by February 15, so schools could start reopening from March 8.
Sir Billy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and retired from live performances five years later.
He recently told the PA news agency he feels ‘happy in his skin’ after making the ‘obvious’ decision to retire following his diagnosis.
The legendary performer was recently honoured with a handful of celebrity tributes in ITV documentary It’s Been A Pleasure, with the likes of Sheridan Smith and Dustin Hoffman in tears talking about the beloved comedian.
The special, which aired in December, marked his final public ‘performance’ after stepping down from touring in 2018.
During the documentary, Billy opens up about his battle with Parkinson’s, saying it will eventually ‘end him’.
‘It was obvious from my movement, that I wasn’t who I used to be. And so I had to explain it… just to say that I am not defined by it,’ he said. ‘It’s got me and it will get me and it will end me but that’s OK with me. It’s got me and it will get me and it will end me but that’s OK with me.
‘I started low and I ended high. Just staying up there, until it is time to stop, seems a natural and good thing to do. It is a good thing to be proud of, I wanted to be a funnyman and I got it.’
Looking down the camera, he added: ‘It’s been a pleasure talking to you all those years. From the beginning when I was a folkie, right through, I couldn’t have done anything without you. You have been magnificent.’
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