Pauline Quirke struggling to ‘identify her own family’ as dementia ‘gathers pace’

A close friend of Pauline Quirke has revealed how dementia is impacting her life after the actress went public with her diagnosis. Pauline, known for Birds of a Feather and Emmerdale, revealed via a statement last month that she was retiring from showbiz, shelving ‘all professional and commercial duties’ due to her condition. Her husband, Steve Sheen, explained ‘with a heavy heart’ that she received her diagnosis in 2021.

Requesting privacy, TV producer Sheen added that it was a ‘difficult period’ for the family, stating that they would not be giving additional interviews as Quirke spends time with her loved ones. Now, a pal has revealed that sadly, Quirke is struggling to recognise those closest to her as her memory worsens. Maurice Gran wrote the hugely successful sitcom Birds of a Feather alongside Laurence Marks, in which Quirke played Sharon Theodopolopodous.

Quirke starred alongside Lesley Joseph, who called creator Gran shortly before the beloved actress’ dementia became public knowledge. Speaking to The Mirror, Gran 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”.’. The speculation in question revolved around a ‘rift’ between Quirke and her on-screen sister Linda Robson. Rumours of bad blood between them only intensified when Quirke declined to appear in further episodes after the 2014 revival.

‘Since the diagnosis, her condition has gathered pace,’ Gran explained. ‘She’s still only 65, so your heart goes out to her.’ Quirke was first given her diagnosis when she was 61. ‘Initially, she felt she was beginning to lose her grip. Now, we understand she struggles to identify members of her own family.’. Addressing a so-called ‘feud’ between Quirke and Robson, Gran added that such reports were always exaggerated.

He insisted that ‘they’re like sisters’ and any reports of a falling out are ‘nonsense’. ‘It’s no more than sibling rivalry, like in any family,’ he declared. His comments come after Loose Women star Robson shared a heartfelt post regarding her long-time friend’s dementia. Taking to Instagram, she shared a recent selfie of them alongside an old snap from their early acting days. ‘This will be the only time I speak on behalf of my best friend, Pauline,’ began the TV star in the caption.

‘For the past three years, I’ve been in close contact with her husband, Steve, and have spent time with Pauline,’ she continued. ‘It breaks my heart to see her endure such a terrible illness. ‘Out of respect for her family and her privacy, I will not be discussing this matter further.’. As well as Birds of a Feather, Quirke is known for appearing in shows such as Broadchurch and Casualty. She’s enjoyed a successful career spanning several decades, which included fronting her own comedy sketch show, Pauline’s Quirkes, in the 1970s.

In 2022, she received an MBE in the late Queen’s final Birthday Honours, recognising her work with young people and contribution to entertainment. The most common forms of dementia (symptoms of a decline in brain function) are Alzheimer’s disease followed by vascular dementia. Alzheimer’s is caused when plaques and tangles form in the brain making it increasingly hard for it to function properly. Early symptoms include forgetting recent events, struggling to remember words, becoming disorientated in familiar places and finding it difficult to concentrate.

Common early symptoms of vascular dementia include problems making decisions or following a series of steps, such as cooking a meal; slower speed of thought and trouble sleeping. The condition can also cause significant mood changes and depression and make people behave completely out of character. Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer – and one in three babies born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. The risk of developing both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia roughly doubles every five years from the age of 65. Women and men are affected equally. Diabetes, obesity, heart problems and high blood pressure all increase the risk.

However, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing the diseases by leading a healthy lifestyle – not smoking or drinking to excess, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Keeping mentally and socially active is also beneficial. The third most common form of dementia – accounting for an estimated 20 per cent of cases – is Lewy body. With this condition, tiny clumps of protein appear in the brain’s nerve cells, causing a range of issues including mood swings, problems processing thoughts, hallucinations, difficulty balancing and walking slowly. Although DLB (dementia with Lewy body) can affect people under 65, it is much more common as we age, affecting men and women equally.