Timothy West has struggled to communicate with his wife Prunella Scales since she was diagnosed with dementia.
Timothy West and wife Prunella Scales
The former 'EastEnders' actor - who has been married to the 'Fawlty Towers' actress, 83, for over fifty years - has confessed they're no longer able to have proper conversations now her condition has worsened.
Asked what the most difficult aspect of her illness is, Timothy said: "Communication really. When we've been to a concert, or a play, or a film, there's nothing very much we can say about it afterwards because Pru will have a fairly hazy memory. She'd have enjoyed her evening and she'll perhaps talk about the acting, but she's not able to cope with talking about what the play was saying."
The 81-year-old star admitted that while they both find it difficult and frustrating, they try not to dwell on it.
Speaking on 'Piers Morgan's Life Stories', he explained: "Well, the sad thing is that you just watch the gradual disappearance of the person that you knew and loved and were very close to. There's a lot of her left, and we still enjoy life and there are a lot of things that Pru is able to enjoy and we're able to do together.
"If you live from day to day it's manageable. It's when you start thinking of the past and thinking, 'Oh what a shame she can't do that anymore, she doesn't appreciate that any more and we can't talk about this anymore', then it's sad."
'Piers Morgan's Life Stories: Timothy West' airs tomorrow (11.12.15) at 9pm on ITV.
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