Pauline Quirke struggles to recognise family weeks after announcing dementia battle

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke's dementia has advanced far enough that she no longer recognises her own family, a close friend has revealed.The star was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 at just 61-years-old, but her diagnosis was not made public until last month by her TV producer husband Steve Sheen.The actor, who is now 65-years-old, has starred in Birds of a Feather, Emmerdale, Broadchurch and The Sculptress.

A close friend has revealed that she is now struggling to remember her own relatives, as her dementia develops further.Maurice Gran, who alongside Laurence Marks, wrote the award-winning sitcom Birds of a Feather, told the Mirror that Pauline's co-star Lesley Joseph, who played Dorien Green in the show, rang him shortly before Pauline's retirement was announced.He said: “Last month, Lesley phoned me to ask if Pauline’s husband, Steve Sheen, had been in touch." "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 spread about a rift between Pauline - who played Sharon Theodopolopodous in the BBC comedy show - and her on-screen sister Linda Robson, who played Tracey Stubbs, for years.Speculation grew further when Pauline refused to take part in any more episodes after the 2014-17 reboot.Maurice said: “Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace. "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."He said the alleged feud between the on-screen sisters was always overblown, as Linda and Pauline go back a long way – to primary school in north London. “They’re like sisters,” he went on. “But it’s