Lesley Joseph has spoken out on her former Birds of a Feather colleague, Pauline Quirke’s recent dementia diagnosis during a chat on Good Morning Britain. While offering her dating tips for single women over fifty, she was asked by host Charlotte Hawkins about Pauline’s health, to which she responded, “I have to say what a wonderful actress she is,” and praised Pauline saying, “And what joy she has given. Not just in Birds of A Feather but in The Sculptress where she was really scary, and in Broadchurch and Emmerdale, I take my hat off to Pauline. She’s amazing.” Lesley continued, “I won’t talk about her at the moment with her illness because that’s private,” and shared her personal experience with dementia as her mother lived nearly 104 vibrant years. Pauline’s husband Steve Sheen had recently made public the sad news: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of Dementia in 2021.”
Lesley Joseph talked about her friend on GMB
(Image: ITV)
A touching statement was released, noting Pauline’s incredible impact: “Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA). Her talent, dedication, and vision have touched countless lives and will continue to do so through the legacy of her work and through PQA where her vision and guidance has facilitated many young peoples’ progression and interest in the Arts and enhanced their self-confidence.” The family emphasised their need for privacy at this time, adding: “For the time being we will not be engaging in interviews or making further statements, since Pauline just wants to spend time with her family, children and grandchildren,” reports the Mirror. Linda Robson, Pauline’s fellow Birds of a Feather star, expressed her sorrow to Express.co.uk, saying: “I have noticed a real difference with her; she doesn’t remember her grandchildren, so she’s not going to remember who I am even though we’ve been friends 56 years. It really is sad.”
Pauline, Lesley and Linda Robson starred in Bird of a Feather
(Image: ITV)
Linda also addressed her followers directly on Instagram with a heartfelt message: “This will be the only time I speak on behalf of my best friend, Pauline. For the past three years, I’ve been in close contact with her husband, Steve, and have spent time with Pauline. It breaks my heart to see her endure such a terrible illness. Out of respect for her family and her privacy, I will not be discussing this matter further.” Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph were the stars of the popular BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather, which originally aired from 1989 to 1998. The show was later revived by ITV and new episodes were produced between 2014 and 2020. In the series, Pauline and Linda portrayed sisters who reunite when their husbands are jailed for armed robbery, while Lesley played their flamboyant neighbour Dorien.
