Linda Robson has heartbreakingly revealed Pauline Quirke ‘doesn’t know’ who she is anymore.
The 65-year-old Birds of a Feather actress’ husband Steve Sheen recently revealed Pauline has been battling dementia – which causes a decline in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills – since 2021.
In a statement at the time, he announced her diagnosis ‘with a heavy heart’ and said she would be stepping back from her professional roles.
Her friend and former co-star Linda has now said it is ‘terrible’ to see Pauline’s decline.
The Loose Women panellist told The Sun: ‘It’s very sad. We’ve been best friends since we were ten. I’ve known [about the diagnosis] for three years and we’ve managed to keep it quiet.
‘She doesn’t know who anybody is. She doesn’t know who I am or who her kids are.
‘Dementia is terrible – I’d rather get cancer, because at least then you’ve got a chance.’
She added: ‘She’s not the Pauline that I knew growing up. She’s got a good support around her, that’s the main thing.’
The 66-year-old – whose mum also had dementia – has only seen Pauline on FaceTime but hopes to see her in person soon.
She said: ‘Hopefully I’m going to go and see her soon. When she sees me, she smiles. But after a couple of minutes it’s gone.
‘I just want to be there for her, it would be really nice to spend some time with her and look after her because we looked after each other all them years.’
She went on to say that people had begun to realise things weren’t ‘right’ with Paulina before Steve made her diagnosis public.
Linda also said that she wouldn’t return to Birds of a Feather again as it ‘wouldn’t be the same without Pauline’, but she and co-star Lesley Joseph would get involved in a tribute to ‘celebrate’ the Broadchurch actress.
‘It’s a good idea, maybe we can get Lesley and we can do something for her, just to celebrate her life and the amazing things she’s done and the parts that she played and the dramas she did. She’s an amazing actress and the most amazing friend as well,’ she said.
Following Pauline’s diagnosis being publicly revealed, Linda said she was ‘heartbroken’ to see her friend endure ‘such a terrible illness’.
‘Out of respect for her family and her privacy, I will not be discussing this matter further,’ she added.
As well as her role as Sharon in Birds Of A Feather alongside Linda and Lesley, Pauline played Olive in BBC miniseries The Sculptures, starred opposite David Tennant on Broadchurch, and played Hazel Rhodes on Emmerdale between 2010 and 2012.
Birds of a Feather originally ran on BBC from 1989 to 1998, and was then revived on ITV from 2014 to 2020.
Birds of a Feather is available to watch on ITVX.
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