BBC viewers are laughing along with Can You Keep a Secret?, the new sitcom starring Dawn French and Mark Heap that blends humour with heartfelt insight into life with Parkinson’s disease. While the show delivers plenty of laughs, it also highlights a very real and important issue: the difficulties people living with Parkinson’s can face when accessing suitable insurance.
A Sitcom with Heart
Airing on BBC One – BBC iPlayer, Can You Keep a Secret? follows retired couple Debbie and William Fendon as they navigate an unusual—and illegal—plan after William is mistakenly declared dead. The twist? William lives with Parkinson’s Disease, and the storyline uses comedy to highlight the condition’s impact on daily life and the wider practical challenges it poses.
Created by Simon Mayhew-Archer, the show reflects the lived experience of people with Parkinson’s, bringing visibility to the disease’s symptoms and the social implications in a way that’s both warm and accessible.
Parkinson’s & Insurance: A Real-World Challenge
One of the heartfelt strands of the series is its focus on how health and life insurance often don’t cover conditions like Parkinson’s—a reality that many families know all too well. In the sitcom, this gap in financial support becomes a key motivator for Debbie’s ill-fated insurance scam.
This isn’t just fiction. In the real world, people diagnosed with Parkinson’s can find it difficult to secure comprehensive life insurance or suitable health coverage, leaving a financial planning gap at an already challenging time.
How The Insurance Surgery Can Help
At The Insurance Surgery, we understand the complexities of chronic conditions like Parkinson’s. As a key referral partner of Parkinson’s UK, we regularly support customers and their families with specialist advice and tailored insurance solutions.
Why Choose The Insurance Surgery?
✔ Specialist expertise: We help customers navigate the insurance market to find policies that fit their health and life circumstances.
✔ Guided support: We work hand-in-hand with individuals affected by Parkinson’s, helping them understand their options and choose the right cover.
✔ Ethical, informed advice: Unlike one-size-fits-all approaches, we focus on what’s right for you—especially when standard policies fall short.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, considering life insurance, or reviewing your existing cover, our experienced advisors are here to help you make confident choices—even when your health situation makes insurance seem complicated.
Parkinson’s UK Partnership
Our status as a Parkinson’s UK referral partner means we are recognised for our work in supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease. We regularly help customers through delicate financial decisions, empowering them with clarity and peace of mind.
If you or a loved one has been affected by Parkinson’s and wants to explore insurance options relevant to your needs, contact The Insurance Surgery todays . We’re here to help you protect what matters most.