The Birds of a Feather actress was diagnosed with dementia back in 2021 when she was 61.
10:08, 24 Apr 2026Updated 10:10, 24 Apr 2026
Pauline Quirke was diagnosed with dementia in 2021(Image: Mike Marsland, WireImagevia Getty Images)
The actress retired from acting following her dementia diagnosis.
Pauline Quirke went public with her condition last year after first being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
Since then, the Birds of a Feather star has stepped out of the spotlight and retired from all professional and commercial duties, her husband said in a statement.
Now, her son Charlie has given an update on his mum’s condition while appearing on Good Morning Britain to speak with Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh.
As the ITV show played a compilation of Pauline’s work, including her alongside her son in Birds of a Feather, Kate and Ranvir were quick to comment on their on-screen appearance.
Kate said: “We all just relish Birds of a Feather, it must’ve been a great thing to be part of and to be doing it with your mum.”
Pauline Quirke was in Birds of a Feather with Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson(Image: ITV )
Charlie replied: “It was a dream come true to be able to work with my mum, we did it on stage first. So, to be able to share a stage with my mum and then be on TV for three seasons, it was a dream come true being on set with my best friend and an amazing actress at the same time.
As Ranvir questioned whether or not Pauline was still his best friend and if the diagnosis had taken her humour away at all, Charlie shared that it wasn’t the case, and she’s still funny.
He added: “Still my best friend! No, not at all, she’s still the funniest woman in the world. With her acting ability, she can do so much with a look or a wink.
Pauline Quirke’s son gave an update on how his mum is doing(Image: ITV)
“She’s still the funniest person that I know. The illness is what it is, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, we take every day as it comes, and every day is a good day for us.”
This weekend, Charlie will be running the London Marathon to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, which he shared that his mum will be watching at home.
As he shared that his parents watch the sporting event every year, it’ll be different this time around as their ‘little boy’ is taking part.
He shared: “I’m carrying a photo of me and my mum together. I only found it yesterday. It’s from the day I was born; my dad gave it to me. I’m going to have that in my vest, and I’m going to take it out when I finish the finish line.”
Charlie Quirke will be running the London Marathon this weekend(Image: ITV)
Charlie explained that he’s running the marathon on behalf of his mum and everyone else suffering from the disease.
Before the interview ended, Ranvir asked if Pauline was aware of the legacy of joy she’s given people over the years through her work.
He replied: “My mum has always been the most humble woman in the world, so I think it was purely a job to her, she’d be thinking about what she was going to cook us for dinner or what had to go on the washing machine or our uniforms the next day!
“We all can look back at the amount of decades she’s been working. It’s quite the breadth of work that she’s done and changed people’s lives, and she’s an incredible woman.”
Good Morning Britain is available to watch on ITV weekdays from 6am.