'THERE'S NO SHOW WITHOUT PAULINE'

Lesley Joseph on why her character Dorien won't ever return to the small screen

- WORDS: STEPHEN LENG. PHOTOS: DANNY KAAN, SHUTTERSTOCK

Lesley Joseph has opened up about the emotional reason why TV show Birds of a Feather will never return – and it’s because of her friend Pauline Quirke.

It was revealed earlier this year that Pauline, 66, is suffering with dementia, having initially been diagnosed in 2021. And due to Pauline’s illness, Lesley, who played hilarious Dorien Green on the long-running sitcom, alongside Pauline and Linda Robson, says they will not make another episode.

Speaking to Woman’s Own at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, she said, ‘Everyone knows about Pauline… and Linda and I wouldn’t do it without her. It’s gone now, and there’s so much else I want to do. We did 129 episodes.’