Loose Women star Linda Robson is said to have been unaware her Birds of a Feather co-star Pauline Quirke’s devastating dementia statement was going to be released

Linda Robson was reportedly not aware Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis was going to be shared publicly.

Pauline’s husband Steve Sheen sadly announced the actress is set to “step away from all commercial and professional duties” to spend time with her family. She is known for playing Sharon Theodopolopodous in the original series of Birds of a Feather and its revival between 2014 and 2017 alongside Linda.

Steve said in the statement: “‘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.” It was revealed on Loose Women yesterday that Linda had known about Pauline’s diagnosis for “some time”.

As the devastating announcement was released, Linda was on a Caribbean cruise. She was near the island of Grenada and was unaware the statement was to be released, according to the Daily Mail. On Monday, Linda had shared a photo of herself with a friend as she wrote: “Having the time of our lives!”

Linda’s Loose Women co-star Ruth Langsford also addressed her being away as Pauline’s health battle was discussed by the panel on Tuesday’s show. Ruth said: “Linda Robson, obviously great friends with Pauline, is actually away at the moment, otherwise she would have joined us today to talk about her friend. And obviously she has known for some time.”

Linda and Pauline have been friends since they were children ( 
Image:
© Pete Dadds / Freemantle Media UK)
Linda and Pauline have been friends since childhood, but have faced feud rumours over the years. Pauline was nowhere to be seen in the Birds of a Feather special back in 2020, which left fans convinced that she and Linda had ended their friendship of fifty years. Her lines in the title song were removed and so were pictures of their characters Tracey and Sharon together.

It was claimed Linda and Pauline had become estranged and in 2022, Linda decided to address the rumours.She told The Mirror: “People say Pauline and I have fallen out. Obviously I couldn’t see her during lockdown but I’ve seen her since. She just doesn’t want to act anymore. She’s had enough – it’s long hours. She’s concentrating on her drama academies. She’s very hands on, going to classes and all that.

“I see Lesley [Joseph] all the time because we won Celebrity Coach Trip last year. And during the lockdowns I would leave funny things on her doorstep, like Tena Lady and hair dye! But when I was ill, both Pauline and Lesley rang me, or a member of my family, every couple of days to see how I was. They were both a big support and really there for me.”

In 2023, Linda admitted that she had for a time felt ‘envious’ of Pauline after she began picking up more serious acting parts. Opening up during an episode of Loose Women, Linda confessed: “So I’ve never really been jealous of Pauline Quirke but I used to be envious of all the roles she got like dramas and everything.

“I used to think, ‘Lovely, I’m really pleased for you but I would love to do some drama role as well’. But now I am doing drama roles, so I don’t have to be envious anymore do I! But no jealousy can be a terrible thing really. I was delighted she was so successful but I just wanted a little bit of it as well and I wished I had got that.” Linda, Pauline, and Lesley attempted to dispel any row rumours once and for all by meeting up for lunch in 2022.

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Dementia UK.

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