Lesley Joseph made her first TV appearance since Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis as she joined the Loose Women panel for Tuesday’s episode. 

During special edition of the show named 70 plus, the TV personality, 79, paid an emotional tribute to time on Birds Of Feather. 

Lesley starred on the show alongside her friend Pauline who’s husband Steve Sheen revealed last week that she is set to ‘step away from all commercial and professional duties,’ following a dementia diagnosis in 2021. 

Opening the show, host Janet Street-Porter said: ‘Old age isn’t something to fear it is something to celebrate!’ as they celebrated 70 years of ITV. 

The panel, consisting of Janet, 78, Gloria Hunniford, 84, and Prue Leith, also 84, discussed their first TV appearances. 

Lesley began: ‘My first show was when I joined GMTV and was the glamour correspondent, I travelled around peaking to people on the Orient Express to Paris and pretend to be Joan Collins and spoke to people at the polo.’

Lesley Joseph made her first TV appearance since Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis as she joined the Loose Women panel for Tuesday’s episode

During special edition of the show named 70 plus, the TV personality, 79, paid an emotional tribute to time on Birds Of Feather (L-R Linda Robson, Lesley and Pauline)

She continued: ‘Birds was on the BBC and then we has a nine year gap so I came over to ITV for about five years.’

The presenters then watched a clip from the series which featured Lesley as Dorien Green alongside Pauline as Sharon Theodopolopodous and Loose Women’s Linda Robson as Tracey Stubbs.   

As well as her role in the comedy Birds Of A Feather, Pauline also had roles in Emmerdale, Broadchurch and a BAFTA-nominated performance in The Sculptress.

In a statement revealing her diagnosis for the first time, her husband Steve said: ‘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.

‘In drama, her BAFTA-nominated role in The Sculptress, was outstanding, as was her role as the mysterious Susan Wright in ITV’s Broadchurch.’

Lesley starred on the show alongside Pauline who’s husband Steve Sheen revealed last week that she is set to ‘step away from all professional duties,’ following a dementia diagnosis

The panel, consisting of Janet, 78, Prue Leith, 84, Lesley and Gloria Hunniford, 84, discussed their first TV appearances

He continued: ‘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.

‘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.’ 

Pauline’s last public appearance saw her proudly receiving an MBE at Windsor Castle in February 2023 

Pauline married her husband Steve in 1996, and they share son Charlie, 30, while the actress also has daughter Emily, 40, from a previous relationship (pictured in 2010)

He continued: ‘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.

‘We are deeply grateful for the support from her peers, the public, and the dedicated staff and Principals at PQA.’

Pauline married her husband Steve in 1996, and they share son Charlie, 30, who has followed in his mother’s acting footsteps, and even starred on Birds Of A Feather’s revival in 2019. The star also has daughter Emily, 40, from a previous relationship.