Terry Jones to be awarded amidst dementia diagnosis

Friday 23rd September 2016, 3:48pm

  • Terry Jones is suffering from a form of dementia, it has been revealed
  • The Monty Python star will experience increasing difficulty in speaking
  • He will receive an Outstanding Contribution award from Welsh BAFTA next month
Terry Jones

Welsh comedian, writer, director and historian Terry Jones has been diagnosed with dementia.

The Monty Python star is suffering from a disease called Primary Progressive Aphasia, a severe type of dementia.

The news was revealed as the Welsh section of BAFTA, BAFTA Cymru, announced it would bestow the comedy star with its Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television next month.

British Comedy Guide understands that the diagnosis was made a number of years ago, but has only just been made public as it has progressed such that he is unable to engage in future public commitments. The illness is described by the National Aphasia Association as "a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired".

"It commonly begins as a subtle disorder of language, progressing to a nearly total inability to speak, in its most severe stage," they explain.

A statement given on his behalf says: "Terry has been diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a variant of Frontotemporal Dementia. This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews. Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations."

The 25th British Academy Cymru Awards will take place next Sunday, 2nd October 2016, in Cardiff.

Jones was born in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, on 1st February 1942. Aside from his best known role as one of the Monty Python comedy troupe, he has an extensive list of credits as writer, actor and director, including The Complete And Utter History Of Britain, The Frost Report, The Two Ronnies, Erik The Viking, Personal Services, Marty and Ripping Yarns.

He has also written and hosted documentaries such as Terry Jones' Medieval Lives, the first episode of which can be watched below.

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