Loose Women Stars Reveal Heartbreaking Details About Pauline Quirk’s Health Struggle
The Loose Women panel opened up about the heartbreaking news of Pauline Quirk’s dementia diagnosis during today’s show. The Birds of a Feather star, who has stepped away from acting due to her condition, was confirmed to have been diagnosed in 2021, according to a statement from her husband. He also revealed their pledge to support Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The panelists, who admitted they’ve known about Pauline’s diagnosis for some time, used the announcement to reflect on the widespread impact of dementia and share personal stories.
Jane Moore, recalling her late friend Barbara Windsor’s battle with dementia, praised Pauline’s decision to go public: “It’s so good that people like Barbara and now Pauline go public. It speaks to other people going through the same thing and removes any feeling of awkwardness around it.” She commended Pauline’s husband for “taking control of the narrative” and waiting until the family was ready to share the news.
Jane also highlighted Pauline’s relatively young age of 65, contrasting it with Barbara Windsor’s diagnosis in her eighties. “Her life will go on, but she’ll just live it in a different way and very much surrounded by the love of her family,” Jane said.
Ruth Langsford added to the discussion, reflecting on how Pauline’s passion for her performing arts schools might make stepping away from work particularly difficult. Ruth also shared her personal experience with dementia, speaking about her father’s diagnosis. She emphasized the importance of transparency, recalling how her family eventually convinced her mother to let their community know about his condition. “It was better that people knew,” Ruth explained.
Jane noted the value of raising awareness, particularly for public figures like Pauline: “Pauline is well known. So people would come up to her while she was out, and they would notice things. So now there is more comfort for her family. Because people now know.”
The panel also celebrated how societal attitudes toward dementia have shifted over the years, with Janet Street-Porter highlighting the increased focus on awareness and support.
The segment concluded on a positive note with clips of Pauline in Birds of a Feather, showcasing her talent for making audiences laugh. Ruth wrapped up the discussion by sending the panel’s love and well-wishes to Pauline and her family, adding, “Linda Robson will be here next week to share her own happy memories.”