Birds Of A Feather star Pauline Quirke has been diagnosed with dementia (Picture: REX)
Birds Of A Feather star Pauline Quirke has been diagnosed with dementia.
Her husband Steve Sheen revealed the 65-year-old actress had been diagnosed with the health condition in 2021 with ‘a heavy heart’.
He added that she is ‘stepping back’ from acting in ‘commercial and professional’ roles.
He said in a statement, as per MailOnline: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of Dementia in 2021.
‘Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA). Her talent, dedication, and vision have touched countless lives and will continue to do so through the legacy of her work and through PQA where her vision and guidance has facilitated many young peoples’ progression and interest in the Arts and enhanced their self-confidence.
‘Pauline is perhaps best known as Sharon Theodopolopodous from Birds of a Feather, the hilarious sitcom that ran for nearly 30 years.
Pauline is stepping back from acting following the diagnosis, after a decades-long career (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She is best known for her role in Birds Of A Feather alongside Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/REX)
‘In drama, her BAFTA-nominated role in The Sculptress, was outstanding, as was her role as the mysterious Susan Wright in ITV’s Broadchurch.
‘Demonstrating her acting versatility, she also starred or appeared in more than 60 TV and film productions, including Carrie’s War, North and South, Casualty, Cold Blood, Thieving Headmistress, My Family, You, Me and the Apocalypse, and of course Emmerdale.
‘During her epic 50 year career, Pauline has been nominated for many awards, including Best TV Comedy Actress in the British Comedy Awards, Best Newcomer in the British Soap Awards and has received multiple nominations for Most Popular Actress and Most Popular Comedy Performer in the National Television Awards.
‘In 2022, Pauline was awarded an MBE in the late Queen’s final Birthday Honours. It was a heartfelt recognition of her incredible work with young people, her contributions to entertainment, and her dedication to charitable causes.
Pauline’s husband Steve, who she shares son Charlie with, shared the news with ‘a heavy heart’ (Picture: Piers Allardyce/Shutterstock)
Charlie followed in Pauline’s footsteps as an actor (Picture: Steve Meddle/Shutterstock)
‘Her acting career has now come to a close, but Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA), with its network of approximately 250 academies and over 15,000 students across the UK, remains robust and will continue to operate as normal in accordance with Pauline’s ideology.
‘Our experienced senior leadership team will maintain the Academies’ success and growth, building on the foundations, ethos and philosophy that Pauline has inspired from the beginning in 2007.
‘We kindly request privacy and understanding for Pauline and our family during this difficult period.
‘For the time being we will not be engaging in interviews or making further statements, since Pauline just wants to spend time with her family, children and grandchildren.
Birds Of A Feather originally ran from 1989 to 1998 before returning in 2014 (Picture: Fremantle Media/REX/Shutterstock)
Pauline played Hazel Rhodes on Emmerdale between 2010 and 2012 (Picture: ITV/REX)
‘We are deeply grateful for the support from her peers, the public, and the dedicated staff and Principals at PQA.’
As well as her role as Sharon in Birds Of A Feather alongside Loose Women’s Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, Pauline played Olive in BBC miniseries The Sculptures, starred opposite David Tennant on Broadchurch, and played Hazel Rhodes on Emmerdale between 2010 and 2012.
She married husband Steve in 1996, and they share son Charlie, 30, and Pauline also has daughter Emily, 40, from a previous relationship.
She was awarded an MBE in February 2023 for services to young people, entertainment and charity.
Pauline was awarded an MBE in 2023 (Picture: PA)
Alzheimer’s Research UK shared a statement showing their support for Pauline (Picture: X)
Following the news of her diagnosis, a statement from Alezheimer’s Research UK read: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear that actress Pauline Quirke has been diagnosed with dementia.
‘Her husband Steve Sheen said that the Birds of a Feather star, 65, was diagnosed in 2021 and is stepping away from acting after a glittering 50-year career.
‘We’re sending our best wishes to Pauline, Steve and the family as they navigate her diagnosis.
‘When the time is right, Pauline and Steve have pledged their support to the charity and will be working with us to raise awareness of dementia and funds for research.’
Alzheimer’s and dementia: the facts
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.
There is currently no cure for any of the forms of dementia. But getting an early diagnosis is very important in allowing you and your loved ones to access all the medical and social support available. If you are worried that you have any of the symptoms, your GP will be able to refer you to a specialist who can carry out a range of tests.
If you are worried that yours or someone else’s symptoms may be dementia, download the Alzheimer’s Society symptoms checklist, on alzheimers.org.uk; for more information or support on anything you’ve read here, call our support line on 0333 150 3456 or visit our website.
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