Frank Kelly, who played the hugely popular Father Jack in Father Ted has revealed that he is living with Parkinson's disease, but he doesn't plan on letting it stop him. 

Kelly believes that he has had the condition which was left undiagnosed for a while, but as an actor with a career that has already spanned over 50 years, "a shaky hand certainly won’t stop me. I remain open to offers for work on stage and screen. I’m quite available and my mobile is always on".

Speaking to The Irish Sun, Kelly stated that his daughter was the first one to notice the symptoms: "I was shaving with my left hand with my right hand down by my side, which my daughter Fiona noticed was shaking. That was a very long time ago. No one ever noticed that little shake in my hand, I just got on with it."

Frank Kelly in character as Father Jack. Image: Photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie

The actor stated that the diagnosis was part of the reason that he decided to write an autobiography entitled, The Next Gig: "Memories can fade with the years so I thought it would be a good idea to get them down now".

The book contains plenty of anecdotes about his time working as a sub-editor with The Irish Press, as well as the fact that a friend of his from the clergy once confronted him about his portrayal of Father Jack Hackett in the iconic show Father Ted.

He added that even at the age of 76, he has no plans of retiring, and that "I'm not going to let Parkinson’s beat me. I'm just not that kind of person". 

You can learn more about Parkinson's Disease, as well as ways to support research and services, from the Parkinson's Association of Ireland

Via The Sun