Lesley Joseph has said her best friend Pauline Quirke is “not okay”.
The actress, 80, who starred with Pauline in Birds of a Feather, has given a heartbreaking update on her friend, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
Lesley made the comments while speaking to Bella magazine at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards last week.
“Pauline is not too well after being diagnosed with dementia a while ago,” Lesley said.
“She's not okay now. I haven't had time, but I'm going to go up and see her next week.”
It was earlier this year Pauline’s husband, Steve Sheen, disclosed that the beloved actress has been battling dementia since 2021.
The condition, which impacts memory, reasoning and cognitive abilities, has led the actress to step away from all commercial and professional activities.
In February, fellow Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson shared that she had been keeping in touch with Pauline, through phone calls and FaceTime, despite the challenges in communication.
“I've been FaceTiming. There's not much conversation but it's just nice to see her face really,” she said.
Speaking to MailOnline, Linda also spoke about the outpouring of support she has received from people expressing sympathy for Quirke’s situation.
“Yeah, people do say, ‘sorry to hear about your friend’,” she noted.
Maurice Gran, co-creator of Birds of a Feather, also spoke about Pauline’s declining health, explaining how the disease has progressed.
“Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace,” he told The Mirror. “She’s still only 65 so your heart goes out to her. Initially, she felt she was beginning to lose her grip. Now, we understand she struggles to identify members of her own family.”
Following the announcement of her diagnosis, Pauline’s son, Charlie, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support following the public revelation of his mother’s diagnosis.
He shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram story, posting a photo with Pauline and admitting he had been “moved” by the outpouring of kind messages he had received. This marked the first time he had spoken publicly about her condition.
He said in the caption: “Hi all, I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all of you for your messages of support, kind words about my beautiful mum and stories you have.
“We, as a family are very moved and touched by all of them, and they have put a smile on all of our faces. We appreciate each and everyone of you. Thank you.”
