Birds of a Feather's Lesley Joseph admits 'I don't know how much longer I've got'

Edinburgh Live

21-05-2025

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TV stalwart Lesley Joseph has spoken out about her career post-Birds of a Feather, acknowledging that her days in the limelight might be waning.
At 79-years-old, Joseph, who became a star after years in the acting business with her portrayal of the vivacious Dorien Green, reflected on the show's conclusion. The series originally wrapped up in 1998 but made a comeback on ITV in 2014, only to be axed again in 2021.
Reflecting on the show's end, Lesley shared her sense of relief, stating: "It came as a relief," and humorously remarked about her character, "I wouldn't have wanted to see Dorien with a zimmer frame."
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She expressed contentment with putting Dorien to rest, saying: "I've laid her to rest now."
In a candid interview with Woman's Own, Lesley opened up about the challenges of ageing in an industry that often overlooks older women. "At my age, I don't know how much longer I have left in the business," she admitted, yet she remains driven: "I'm still ambitious, but I know my time is limited," she conceded, reports the Mirror.
Joseph attributes her enduring career to her versatility and willingness to embrace different characters, and she's heartened by the increasing presence of mature women on television. "There's been a renaissance of older women on screen recently," she observed.
Approaching her 80th birthday, Lesley Joseph's zest for life is undiminished, a trait she credits to her late mother's influence. "My mum died just short of 104," she revealed.
(Image: ITV)
(Image: (Image: Getty))
"She was dancing until she was 96 and only stopped playing badminton when she was 90."
Lesley maintains her health by walking extensively, practising yoga, ensuring adequate rest, and keeping on top of her vitamin intake. "Exercising both physically and mentally is key," she emphasised.
Despite moving on from her sitcom fame, Joseph is eager to explore new opportunities. "I've got a lot more to offer," she declared, although she concedes that being pigeonholed due to her iconic role can be irksome.
"It can get frustrating being called a 'sitcom queen'," she admitted.
In other news, Birds of a Feather fans have had their hopes dashed for a series return. Linda Robson, speaking on Loose Women: The Podcast, confirmed the show's end, citing Pauline Quirke's retirement from acting due to a dementia diagnosis.
"No, it's not going to come back. Because of Pauline, she's not going to work again now," Linda stated.
Linda also shared updates on Quirke's condition, noting that while there are challenging days, there are positive developments too. "Charlie [Pauline's son] rang me and just said she is doing really, really well at the moment," she reported.
"Sometimes she has down days, but at the moment she is quite up about everything."
Linda Robson was visibly moved as she recounted the moment, saying, "He said they got really, really excited when she said, 'Here, where's my mate Linda Robson?' So I got quite emotional when he told me that as well."