Billy Connolly emotionally recounts devastating final encounter with friend Robin Williams

Sir Billy Connolly has opened up about his final encounter with the late Robin Williams. The 81-year-old comedian spoke about his friendship with the American actor, who died in 2014 at the age of 63.

The retired artist will candidly open up about his life on Monday, September 2, as the first celebrity guest on the new BBC One series In My Own Words.

Speaking about Robin, who took his own life a decade ago, Billy said: “When he took his life it was the saddest day. Before he passed he said, ‘Let’s have dinner.’ During the dinner he said, ‘I love you.’

"He said, ‘Do you believe me?’ I said, ‘Of course I do.’ He said, ‘Believe me, I love you'.

“I thought it was weird for him to say that as it was not his usual thing and he was dead on the weekend. I always felt that was him saying goodbye. He was the best ever.”

Robin Williams was known for his comic genius as well as his famed roles in Good Will Hunting, Jumanji, Aladdin and Mrs Doubtfire.

The acclaimed actor tragically died by suicide and on the 10th anniversary of his death this year, many Hollywood stars in the entertainment industry came together to share their love for him.

Williams’s final days were covered in Robin’s Wish, which came out in 2020 and explores the neurodegenerative disorder he was struggling with before he died.

In recent months, Billy has opened up about his battle with Parkinson's disease and said that he's suffered significant falls.

He first announced his diagnosis in 2014 and in the last year he's noticed a new symptom; impaired balance.

"Recently I've noticed a deterioration in my balance. That was never such a problem before, but in the last year that has come and it has stayed," Billy told The Guardian in 2023.