Birds of a Feather star says 'I don't know how long I've got left' in heartbreaking admission
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Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph admits she "doesn't know how long she has left" as she addressed her TV future.
Lesley, 79, had an extensive career with numerous TV roles throughout the 70s and 80s. However, it was her portrayal of Dorien Green in the BBC's Birds of a Feather, alongside Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, that catapulted her to stardom.
Dorien became an iconic character on British TV, known for her bold fashion and sharp one-liners. The show concluded in 1998 but was later revived by ITV in 2014, before being cancelled in 2021.
Lesley has admitted that the show's end "came as a relief" to her, as she didn't want to see her character age ungracefully. She has also ruled out bringing back the character in the future, admitting she has "laid her to rest now".
With the conclusion of Birds of a Feather, Lesley has been reflecting on what lies ahead for her in the world of television. In a conversation with Woman's Own, she revealed: "At my age, I don't know how much longer I have left in the business."
(Image: ITV)
Lesley believes the secret to her six-decade career has been showing her versatility. She added: "I'm still ambitious, but I know my time is limited."
Despite this, Lesley notes a recent "renaissance" for older women on screen. Approaching her 80th birthday, she maintains a vibrant approach to life, a trait she believes she inherited from her mother.
Lesley has shared touching insights about her late mother, who led an incredibly active life, only ceasing some of her energetic pastimes in her nineties. According to Lesley, her mum was still dancing at the age of 96 and didn't hang up her badminton racket until she was 90.
To help stay fit herself, Lesley "walks everywhere" and does yoga in her spare time. She makes sure she "sleeps as much as she can" and takes vitamins, believing exercising both physically and mentally is key.
(Image: Getty Images)
Determined to remain healthy, Lesley feels she still has "a lot more to offer" and various roles she'd like to play before considering retirement. Nevertheless, she shares a hint of frustration regarding her reputation as a "sitcom queen".
Meanwhile, her Birds of a Feather colleague Linda recently disclosed that there are no current plans to revive the popular show. Following the news of Pauline Quirke's step back from public appearances due to dementia—a condition diagnosed in 2021—Linda addressed the future of the programme on Loose Women: The Podcast.
Responding to Jane Moore's query about the sitcom's return, Linda asserted: "No, it's not going to come back. Because of Pauline, she's not going to work again now."
Linda opened up about Pauline's health, noting that while the 65-year-old experiences "down days", she has been "quite up" of late. She highlighted how Pauline's son Charlie keeps her informed on his mother's wellbeing.
Relaying Charlie's update, Linda revealed: "Charlie rang me and just said she is doing really, really well at the moment. Sometimes she has down days but at the moment she is quite up about everything.
"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."
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