Music legend Tony Christie continues to perform despite his dementia diagnosis, with his wife Sue praising his determination as he tours and records new music.

The singer, 81, best known for (Is This the Way to) Amarillo, has released a new album тιтled A New Life, and is now embarking on a packed touring schedule across the UK and Europe. 

Sue, who met Tony when she watched him perform at a social club in Yorkshire back in 1967, has now spoken out on her admiration for her husband’s resilience. 

She told The Mirror: ‘I am so proud of him. In fact, I am totally in awe. He has the condition and he deals with it really bravely. 

She added: ‘He is just the same person, just a little forgetful.’

Diagnosed with dementia in 2023 after struggling with crosswords, Tony has refused to slow down, using a teleprompter on stage, but insists he has always needed one. 

Music legend Tony Christie continues to perform despite his dementia diagnosis, with his wife Sue praising his determination as he tours and records new music

Sue, who met Tony when she watched him perform at a social club in Yorkshire back in 1967, has now spoken out on her admiration for her husband’s resilience

Despite his diagnosis and the extra help, Tony has maintained his humour and joked to the publication: ‘It’s just short-term memory that’s the problem, like paying the bills.’

His son and manager, Sean, added: ‘That’s how we cope – we use humour, and Dad loves a joke.’ 

It comes after Tony revealed he tries to ‘ignore’ his dementia diagnosis after vowing to carry on performing despite his health battle.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain last year Tony said: ‘I actually ignore it. I just carry on and do my thing.

‘Obviously, I’ve got to use my autocue, but I’ve used an autocue for donkey’s years. I’m doing stuff from albums and I can’t remember all these lyrics from 40 or 50 years ago so I do use an autocue to help me.

‘Otherwise, if I make a mess of a song, the audience lose, not me.’

Tony added that he believes performing has helped him during his fight with the condition, saying: ‘The doctor said “You’re in the music business so you’re very lucky, because that’s one of the things that helps dementia people.”

‘The music takes your mind off the things, you don’t forget music. You forget people’s names and things and lyrics but as soon as music starts you’re back. It’s memory, you never forget it.’

Diagnosed with dementia in 2023 after struggling with crosswords, Tony (pictured last year) has refused to slow down and uses a teleprompter on stage, but insists he has always needed one

Now his ‘proud’ wife has said: ‘I am totally in awe. He has the condition and he deals with it really bravely’ before adding: ‘He is just the same person, just a little forgetful’

Peter Kay (pictured right)released a version of ‘Amarillo’ in 2005 for Comic Relief which became a huge hit, and reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks

Tony previously detailed the moment his wife Sue spotted the early signs that he had dementia ahead of his diagnosis.

The Amarillo hitmaker appeared on Loose Women alongside his wife Sue where they discussed his condition.

And the couple told how it was Tony’s love of crossword puzzles that brought to their attention that something could be seriously wrong. 

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour. 

As host Coleen Nolan asked: ‘What were the signs initially?’, Tony responded: ‘I’ve been a crossword addict for all my life, basically cryptic [crosswords] and I suddenly started having problems solving and forgetting names. 

‘And it was my wife Sue that said, ‘I think we should go and see a specialist.”

Sue then went on to say how she had spotted changes in her husband before they then sought help.

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She explained: ‘He’d get anxious and cross with himself when he couldn’t do the puzzles and I said, ‘Look, I think it’s time we get you checked out’ because he kept saying, ‘I’m losing it. I’m losing it!”

Tony then described how he’d undergone a series of tests and scans before being told he had the beginnings of dementia.

The performer went on to say that ‘lot of people are embarrᴀssed’ about dementia, adding that he decided to speak publicly about his condition to show there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Meanwhile, Sue told of the moment Tony realised he needed to speak out about his dementia.

She explained: ‘We went to an Age UK Christmas carol concert and there was a lot of people with dementia and Tony said, ‘You know I’ve got to start talking about this because it’s like I’m keeping a guilty secret. And, we go to lots of these events and they’re going to think I’m ashamed if I don’t come out.” 

The couple, who’ve been married for 55 years, told how they were ”relieved’ to get his diagnosis, with Tony adding that he’s staying ‘positive’. 

WHAT IS DEMENTIA? THE KILLER DISEASE THAT ROBS SUFFERERS OF THEIR MEMORIES 

A GLOBAL CONCERN 

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour. 

There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

Some people may have a combination of types of dementia.

Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in their own unique way.

Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?

The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6million by 2040.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.

In the US, it’s estimated there are 6million Alzheimer’s sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years.

As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.

Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.

IS THERE A CURE?

Currently there is no cure for dementia.

But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted the more effective treatments are.

Source: Alzheimer’s Society