Terry Jones of “Monty Python” fame has been diagnosed with dementia.
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A spokesman for the comedian said: “Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia”.
The news of Jones’ diagnosis came as Bafta Cymru announced it to be given a special award for outstanding contribution to film and television. The 74-year-old subsequently can no longer give interviews.
Jones has the distinction of delivering possibly the most famous line in all of Python history, as Brian’s mother Mandy in Life of Brian.
“Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations”, his spokesman said.
Renowned as a writer and documentarian, Jones has composed operas, written short stories, and recently completed his latest novel The Tyrant & the Squire, which completes a trilogy.
Jones lives with his partner Anna Soderstrom and their seven-year-old daughter Siri.
His award was announced at the Bafta Cymru nominees party yesterday, as well as that of make-up artist Sian Grigg.
Jones’s illness is described by the National Aphasia Association as “a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired”.
The surviving members all reunited for 10 live comedy shows, titled “Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down, Five to Go”, at The O2 in London in 2014 with the shows billed as their final ever performances.
Hannah Raybould, Director of BAFTA Cymru, said the gong was to celebrate the Welsh born comic’s work since the 1960s.
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Chapman died in 1989 at the age of 48.
