Robson has revealed the moment she knew something “wasn’t right” with her friend Pauline.

Robson has revealed the moment she knew something “wasn’t right” with her friend Pauline.

Linda Robson has laid bare the moment she knew something “wasn’t right” with friend Pauline Quirke amid a dementia diagnosis. ITV Loose Women star Robson has revealed the moment she knew something “wasn’t right” with her friend Pauline.

“I hadn’t spoken to her for a little while and I kept wondering why she hadn’t returned my calls. Eventually, Steve phoned me back,” she told Bella Magazine. “Lesley [Joseph] and I went for lunch with her and that’s when we realised something wasn’t right with her, and that was three years ago.”

Revealing she has known about her friend’s dementia battle for the last three years, Linda added: “I managed to keep it a secret. It was very important that I did, because it was up to her family when it was time for them to let everyone know.

“Steve was taking her away a lot, just to get her out of the country.” Speaking to The Sun at the TV Choice Awards, Linda shared: “I haven’t seen Pauline in person but I’ve seen her on FaceTime.”

She added: “Steve has said that I can go and see her next week, so that’s what I’ll do. It’s about taking everything slowly for her really.” Linda also said at the awards: “It’s very sad. We’ve been best friends since we were ten. I’ve known [about the diagnosis] for three years and we’ve managed to keep it quiet.

“She doesn’t know who anybody is. She doesn’t know who I am or who her kids are. Dementia is terrible – I’d rather get cancer, because at least then you’ve got a chance.” Linda continued: “My mum had it [dementia] as well. One in two people now get dementia, it’s a lot of people.

“When my mum was in a hospice, we’d get there and she’d recognise us for a second and that was completely gone. It’s the worst thing, it really really is.”