Men Behaving Badly's Leslie Ash, 65, makes rare public appearance using a pink walking stick at London's Lido Festival

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

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.
3
Leslie Ash is well known for her role in Men Behaving Badly
Credit: Rex Features
3
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
Read more on Leslie Ash
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
'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.
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"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
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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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The festival took place at Victoria Park in London
Credit: Eroteme