Linda Robson shares ‘heartbreak’ after Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis

My heart breaks Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis, according to Linda Robson, her long-term comedy partner.

The Birds of a Feather co-stars have collaborated for almost ten years in the past. Last week, Quirke’s husband Steve Sheen said she will retire from “all professional and commercial duties” after a diagnosis in 2021. On Instagram, 66-year-old Loose Women star Robson wrote: “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. She is going to have such a terrible illness, and it breaks my heart. Out of respect for her family and her privacy, I will not be discussing this matter further. “

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step down from all professional and commercial responsibilities as a result of her diagnosis of dementia in 2021, according to Steve in his own statement. Linda had known about Pauline’s diagnosis for “some time,” according to a report on Loose Women last week.

As the devastating announcement was released, Linda was on a Caribbean cruise. According to reports, she was close to the island of Grenada and had no idea that the statement would be made public. 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. She has known this for some time, of course. Although Linda and Pauline have known each other since they were young, there have been rumors of feuds.

Fans were persuaded that Pauline and Linda had ended their friendship after watching the Birds of a Feather special from back in 2020 because she was not in the scene. Both her lines in the song’s title and those of Tracey and Sharon were taken down.

In 2022, Linda 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 I would leave funny things on Tena Lady’s doorstep, such as hair dye, during the lockdowns! However, Pauline and Lesley would call me or a member of my family every couple of days to check on how I was when I was ill. They both provided a significant support for me and were there for me.

In an effort to dispel any rumors of a feud, Linda and Pauline were seen together at lunch that same year. The Loose Women star explained:” We had our photo taken together and I got my daughter Roberta to upload it to my Instagram, captioning it: ‘ A lovely lunch with my beautiful friends. ‘ It was our way of saying, ‘ There you go, that’ll shut you up! ‘ “

However, Linda acknowledged in 2023 that she had a feeling of envy of Pauline once as she began to audition for more significant acting roles. Linda confessed to being jealous of Pauline Quirke during an episode of Loose Women, saying, “I’ve never really been jealous of her, but I used to be envious of all the roles she got, including drama roles and everything.

“I used to think, ‘ Lovely, I’m really pleased for you but I would love to do some drama role as well’. I’m now playing drama roles, so I’m no longer required to be envious. However, no real jealousy can be a terrible thing. I was relieved that she had succeeded, but I also wished I had some of it.

Dementia UK offers support and guidance if you have been impacted by this tale.

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Source: Mirror