Pauline Quirke ‘struggles to recognise family’ as dementia battle ‘gathers pace’

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke’s dementia has advanced to the point where she struggles to recognise her own family, a former colleague has shared.

Last month her TV producer husband Steve Sheen announced that the actress was suffering from the disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2021 when she was just 61, the Mirror reports.

Pauline has starred in shows including Emmerdale, Broadchurch and The Sculptress, but is best known for her role in award-winning sitcom Birds of a Feather.

But Maurice Gran, who co-wrote the show alongside Laurence Marks, tolf The Mirror that the condition has “gathered pace”. He revealed that Pauline's co-star Lesley Joseph rang him shortly before Steve announced Pauline's retirement from showbiz. “Last month, Lesley phoned me to ask if Pauline’s husband, Steve Sheen, had been in touch," he recalled. "I told her no. ‘Well,’ said Lesley, ‘he’s going to go public about Pauline to put a stop to all the speculation.’" Rumours had been rife about a rift between Pauline - who played Sharon Theodopolopodous in the BBC comedy show - and her on-screen sister Linda Robson for years, with speculation only growing when Pauline refused to take part in any more episodes after the 2014-17 reboot. “Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace," says Maurice. "She’s still only 65 so your heart goes out to her.