Beloved Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph has shared a devastating update on her longtime co-star and best friend Pauline Quirke, revealing the 65-year-old star is sadly “not okay” as she continues to battle dementia.
Pauline, best known for her role alongside Lesley and Linda Robson, was first diagnosed with the illness in 2021, though the news was kept private until her husband Steve Sheen confirmed it earlier this year. Speaking at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, Lesley, 80, opened up to Bella Magazine, saying with visible sadness:
“Pauline is not too well after being diagnosed with dementia a while ago. She’s not okay now. I haven’t had time, but I’m going to go up and see her next week.”
Lesley, who has enjoyed a glittering six-decade career on stage and screen, also admitted she’s been struggling with feelings of guilt — not only about Pauline’s health, but also about missing precious time with her own family.
“I feel tremendous guilt for not being the grandmother my kids probably expected,” she confessed. “I’ve never done the school run or babysitting. I just find it hard to say no to acting jobs.”
Her candid confession follows earlier remarks from Linda Robson, who offered a rare glimpse of hope earlier this year, saying Pauline has had some “up days” recently and even asked about her “mate Linda.”
Speaking on the Loose Women Podcast with Jane Moore, Linda revealed:
“Charlie [Pauline’s son] rang me and said she’s doing really well at the moment. Sometimes she has down days, but right now she’s quite up about everything.
They said they got really excited when she said, ‘Where’s my mate Linda Robson?’ I got quite emotional when he told me.”
Linda, who has known Pauline since childhood, added tearfully:
“We’ve known each other since we were 10 years old. She’s always been an amazing actress and my best friend.”
The Birds of a Feather co-writer Maurice Gran also shared in February that Pauline’s condition has sadly worsened, explaining she now struggles to recognise her own family members.
“Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace,” he said. “She’s still only 65, so your heart goes out to her. Initially, she felt she was beginning to lose her grip. Now, we understand she struggles to identify members of her own family.”
Linda later spoke to Bella Magazine about the painful moment she first realised something was wrong.
“I hadn’t spoken to her for a while and wondered why she hadn’t returned my calls. Eventually, Steve phoned me back. Lesley and I went for lunch with her, and that’s when we realised something wasn’t right — that was three years ago.”
For years, Linda quietly carried the truth, keeping Pauline’s diagnosis private until the family was ready to share it publicly.
“I’ve known for the last three years that she wasn’t well,” she said. “It was important that I kept it a secret — it was up to her family to decide when to tell everyone.”
💔 Fans across the UK have flooded social media with messages of love and support for Pauline, remembering her as one of Britain’s most talented and down-to-earth actresses — and praying for brighter days ahead.
🕊️ Source: Daily Mail
