Men Behaving Badly's Leslie Ash, 65, makes rare public appearance using a pink walking stick at London's Lido Festival
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MEN Behaving Badly star Leslie Ash used a pink walking stick during a rare public appearance at Lido Festival.
Leslie, 65, played the role of Debs Burton on the popular 1990s sitcom.
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Leslie Ash is well known for her role in Men Behaving Badly
Credit: Rex Features
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The actress used a pink walking stick while attending Lido Festival
Credit: Eroteme
Her character was the love interest to Tony Smart, played by Neil Morrissey.
She attended the festival in Victoria Park, London, alongside her husband, former footballer Lee Chapman.
The actress opted for a casual look, with a white shirt, dark blue denim jeans and pink trainers.
In 2004, while in hospital, Leslie contracted a 'deadly strain' of the MRSA superbug due to an abscess on her spinal column.
It left her with a devastating injury - 25 per cent of her spine damaged.
Leslie was initially told she would never walk again, but she has managed to defy the odds and now only relies on a stick at certain times.
She previously told The Sun: 'It was a nightmare. Twenty five per cent of my spine was damaged by the abscess I had on my back from the epidural.
'That happened to be the part that connects with my brain and gives me my balance. If I shut my eyes, I have no idea where I am.
"If someone walks into me it wouldn't take much for me to be knocked off my feet so I carry the stick as a warning.
She added: 'I was in and out of hospital for 15 years and it left me depressed. They put me on antidepressants for a long time.
Men Behaving Badly's Leslie Ash admits you 'probably couldn't make' sitcom in today's cancel culture as she gives health update
'I wouldn't advise anyone to go on antidepressants — work it out, talk to someone but don't go on those pills because they just numb you.
'You don't feel happy, you don't feel sad, you are just in a zone. Then you find it difficult to get out of that zone.
'I was so frightened to come off them because I was using them as pain relief and worried I would be left really low and depressed. I've come through it now.'
Leslie is also known for starring opposite Phil Daniels in 1979 film Quadrophenia.
Last year, she opened up about whether Men Behaving Badly could made today.
Best BBC comedies
A BBC boss called on the industry to "save our sitcoms", but the corporation has a history of fantastic shows.
We look back at some of the best to ever grace the screen.
Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) - Only two series were made of the beloved institution. However, the cultural impact of the series starring John Cleese and Connie Booth spans decades. It follows rude and intolerant Basil Fawlty (Cleese) as he attempts to improve the reputation of his hotel.
Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) - The show was crowned by some as the best British sitcom of all time by a TV poll in 2004. Seven series were broadcast on BBC until 1991 with additional sporadic Christmas specials airing until 2003. Sir David Jason starred as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter whilst Nicholas Lyndhurst played his younger half-brother Rodney. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it follows the highs and lows of the lives of the Trotters', in particular their brazen attempts to get rich.
Blackadder (1983 - 1989) - Four series were made of the iconic show, created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Each series spans a different historical period as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) tries to better himself in each society. Accompanied by his dogsbody Baldrick (Tony Robinson), trouble always ensues. A TV poll in 2004 found that Blackadder was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time
Absolutely Fabulous (1992 - 2012) - Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley star as failing PR guru Edina 'Eddie' Monsoon and alcoholic fashionista Patsy Stone. The pair embark on heavy-drinking sessions and abuse drugs in a desperate attempt to stay 'hip'. Eddie constantly chases bizarre fads and fails to lose weight whilst her disappointed and neglected daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) looks on.
Little Britain (2003 - 2006) - The premise is simple. A sketch show which features different British people from all walks of life that are engaged in all sorts of comical scenarios. Starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the pair created iconic pop culture characters. Viewers loved obnoxious council estate teenager Vicky Pollard, morbidly obese scrounger Bubbles Devere, slimming coach Marjorie Dawes, despondent office worker Carol Beer, disgraced politician Sir Norman Fry, of course the iconic Lou and Andy!
The Catherine Tate Show (2004-2015) - A sketch show starring the likes of Catherine Tate. She made iconic characters such as rowdy schoolgirl Lauren Cooper with her line 'Am I bovvered?'. Other characters featured Bernie the nurse, the aga saga woman, complaining couple Janice and Ray, and of course her infamous 'Nan', Joannie Taylor. The last character herself spawned multiple specials and even a movie.
Gavin and Stacey (2007 - Present) The series tells the story of Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). The pair embarked on an online and telephone romance for six months. But when they finally decide to be together properly, their friends and family get in the way. Ruth Jones and James Corden created the beloved show, which has been going for over a decade. The 2019 Christmas special was the most-watched comedy in 17 years and the most-viewed non-sporting event in a decade.
She told Richard Madeley: "You probably couldn't make it today.
"It is good to re-watch. People should learn where we come from.
"It's different but it's so funny."
Leslie added: "It's a shame [it couldn't be made now.]
"It's of our time. But men were like that in those days, I am sorry to say!"
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