Music legend Tony Christie reveals he’s been diagnosed with dementia

TONY Christie has revealed he’s been diagnosed with dementia.

The music legend, 79, appeared on Steph’s Packed Lunch today and told how he received the news last year.

Singer Tony also confessed that he now has to have a screen with his lyrics displayed when performing on stage.

He told Steph McGovern: “I have to have a TV screen on stage with me with the lyrics. I don’t very often use it, it’s there just to make me feel safe.”

Despite the dementia diagnosis, Tony insisted he’s not giving up and will continue to live life to the fullest.

He said: “I’m looking forward to working. I love working. My grandad used to say, ‘you retire, you die’ and I just said I’m not going to die. I’m going to carry on and carry on… I feel good. I can carry on forever, that’s how I feel.

It was after a discussion with his wife Sue that Tony saw a specialist.

“I said to my wife, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m starting to forget people’s names and things,’” Tony explained.

“She said, ‘Let’s go and see a specialist.’ I had all the tests and they said it’s an early start of dementia.

“They started me on these tablets which slowed it right down and it’s really slowed it down.”

Pointing to Sue, who was in the audience, Tony joked: “I can’t remember her name now.”