The TV icon Lesley Joseph opens up about ageing in showbiz, saying goodbye to Dorien Green, and why she still has more roles she would love to play

Birds of a Feather starred Pauline Quirke, Lesley Joseph, Linda Robson(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Television veteran Lesley Joseph has opened up about life after Birds of a Feather, revealing she’s come to terms with the fact that her time in the spotlight may be drawing to a close.

Now 79, Joseph found fame after decades of acting when she stepped into the high heels of the flamboyant Dorien Green – a role that made her a household name and TV icon. The original run of the show ended in 1998 but was brought back by ITV in 2014 before being cancelled again in 2021.

Looking back, Lesley admits the end of Birds of a Feather came at the right time. “It came as a relief,” she said candidly. “I wouldn’t have wanted to see Dorien with a zimmer frame.” She’s also made peace with leaving the character behind for good, adding: “I’ve laid her to rest now.”

Speaking to Woman’s Own, the actress was refreshingly honest about the reality of growing older in an industry that often sidelines women past a certain age. “At my age, I don’t know how much longer I have left in the business,” she confessed. Still, her spark remains. “I’m still ambitious, but I know my time is limited,” she added.

Lesley says she doesn’t know how long she has left in her TV career(Image: ITV )

Joseph credits her long-lasting career to her ability to adapt and take on varied roles, and she’s optimistic about the changing landscape of TV. “There’s been a renaissance of older women on screen recently,” she noted.

Despite turning 80 later this year, Lesley’s energy and outlook remain upbeat—something she attributes to the example set by her late mother. “My mum died just short of 104,” she shared. “She was dancing until she was 96 and only stopped playing badminton when she was 90.”

To stay fit and active, Lesley says she “walks everywhere,” does yoga regularly, prioritises rest, and keeps up with her vitamins. “Exercising both physically and mentally is key,” she added.

Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph in a promo photo for Birds of a Feather.(Image: Jennifer McDonald / ITV)

Even with her sitcom days behind her, Joseph says she still has plenty she wants to achieve. “I’ve got a lot more to offer,” she said, though she admits being boxed in by her most famous role can be frustrating. “It can get frustrating being called a ‘sitcom queen’,” she acknowledged.

Meanwhile, fans hoping for a Birds of a Feather revival were recently given a definitive answer. Co-star Linda Robson confirmed that the show will not be returning, following the news that Pauline Quirke has retired from acting after a dementia diagnosis.

Appearing on Loose Women: The Podcast, Linda said: “No, it’s not going to come back. Because of Pauline, she’s not going to work again now.”

Lesley found fame after decades of acting when she stepped into the high heels of the flamboyant Dorien Green(Image: (Image: Getty))

Robson added that while Quirke, now 65, has her “down days,” there have also been encouraging signs. “Charlie [Pauline’s son] rang me and just said she is doing really, really well at the moment,” Linda shared. “Sometimes she has down days, but at the moment she is quite up about everything.”

In a moment that clearly moved her, Linda recalled: “He said they got really, really excited when she said, ‘Here, where’s my mate Linda Robson?’ So I got quite emotional when he told me that as well.”