Singer Tony Christie spoke about his dementia diagnosis on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.
The 79-year-old Road to Amarillo star said he is “not worried” about the disease, is determined to keep acting and wants to reassure others who have had the same diagnosis.
He said: ‘I have a feeling that in a few years, there will be tablets that will cure you. I am not worried.’
‘I’m sure there will be tablets to cure it soon’: Tony Christie, 79, spoke about having dementia on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday and said he is not worried about his diagnosis.
Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those that affect the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.
Detailing how he found out he had the condition, he said: “I used to do two or three crossword puzzles a day and [I wasn’t able to]. I was like what is happening to me.
‘[My wife Sue said] Come on and let’s get checked. I was told that she had early onset dementia and that was two years ago. I ignored it.
‘I just said go ahead and just go ahead and work. So why have I come out about it? Well, I have met many people who have it and are concerned about it.
He said: ‘I just said go ahead and just go ahead and work. So why have I come out about it? Well, I’ve met a lot of people who have it and they’re worried about it.’
Hard time: Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those that affect the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.
Tony said: “The advice for people who are concerned is to go see a specialist and take tablets.”
I’m not worried about that.
“I have spoken with specialists and they have given me pills and little by little they have been working.”
He continued: “The advice for people who are concerned about that is to go see a specialist and take tablets.”
Tony previously revealed that he was concerned that he was developing dementia after noticing his memory worsening in 2019.
The star said that despite performing the same songs for 50 years, now she needs the lyrics in an autocue.
For now, Tony is trying not to “dwell” on the diagnosis and is about to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to record new music.
However, the star admits that he fears the day will come when he will not be able to take the stage again, despite the insistence of Sue, his wife of 55 years: “He will never lose that.” We won’t let you lose that.
Tony added that he’s not worried about not being able to sing Amarillo, joking that the crowd sings it for him during his performances.
While her long-term memory is still clear, she admits that she has a hard time remembering recent things.
But he sees something positive in the situation in the sense that if he encourages other people to get tested and take medicine, then he will be pleased.
And he insists the show must go on, with the singer planning a celebratory concert for his upcoming 80th birthday.
The hitmaker previously recounted how a test two years ago revealed that a small buildup of plaque in his brain was causing memory problems.
Tony told the Mirror: ‘I have noticed for some years now that my memory has worsened, which is a serious concern, especially since there is a history of dementia in my family.
“It’s gotten to the point where I have to have the lyrics to every song I perform live written in autocue, and most of them I’ve been singing for half a century.”
However, the star tried to stay positive, adding, “If it’s bad news, I expect jokes from people saying they always suspected it, since I clearly still don’t know my way to Amarillo 48 years after that song.” first a hit
Fears: The star admits he fears the day will come when he won’t be able to take the stage again, despite the insistence of Sue, his wife of 55 years, that he “won’t lose that”
Tony also revealed that he had to write down the names of his bandmates to ensure he didn’t misrepresent them on stage.
And at a recent concert in Germany, the I Did What I Did For Maria singer got the wrong city, thinking he was in Hamburg when he was actually in Leipzig.
Tony explained that although he tried to make a joke, the moment was “not really a laughing matter for me.”
He also had trouble remembering things while writing the autobiography The Song Interpreter and had to ask Sue, his wife of 51 years, for help.
Star: Tony’s hits include Las Vegas and I Did What I Did For Maria, but the long-singing classic Amarillo was his first song to sell a million copies. Tony is pictured performing in 1967.
Although Tony’s hits included Las Vegas and I Did What I Did for Maria, Amarillo was his first song to sell a million copies.
The catchy tune was a hit again when in 2005 Peter Kay used it for a Comic Relief video.
Originally, Tony was going to star in the number with Peter Kay, but his involvement was scaled back until he was cut from the filming schedule entirely.
Only an irate phone call from his manager son, Sean, threatening to withhold permission to use the song, got him reinstated. . . for just 14 seconds of footage.