MARATHON man

CHARLIE QUIRKE on racing for his mum, actor Pauline Quirke, who is living with dementia...

- WORDS: HANNAH DAVIES

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Charlie Quirke is awake bright and early and about to hit the gym when TV Times catches up with him before he runs his first London Marathon on Sunday. The actor has been training hard to compete in the 26.2-mile race in honour of his beloved mum, Pauline Quirke. Best known for playing Sharon Theodopolopodous in BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather, Pauline was diagnosed with dementia in 2021, aged 61.

‘I actually hate running! But since we went public last year with the news that my mum is living with dementia, the family have become ambassadors for Alzheimer’s Research UK,’ says Charlie, who starred opposite his mum as Sharon’s nephew Travis Stubbs in ITV’s revival of Birds of a Feather between 2014 and 2017.

‘Mum has always been such a selfless, charitable person, so I reluctantly agreed to run on behalf of the charity with some of my loved ones, who all love my mum, too. I’m going to be crying my eyes out on the day.’