Linda Robson makes rare comment about Pauline Quirke friendship amid 'feud' rumours

Linda Robson has been reflecting on her time since appearing in the hit BBC One show Birds of a Feather, which she starred in alongside best friend Pauline Quirke

Linda Robson has firmly quashed speculation about her enduring friendship with Pauline Quirke.

Excitement filled the Loose Women set as Linda marked 35 years since the debut of the beloved BBC One show Birds Of A Feather. Recounting their discovery story, the actress shared how she and Pauline were first spotted during this celebratory moment.

While discussing her major TV breakthrough on Wednesday's (October 16) episode, Linda reminisced about their frantic journey via bus to the studio, where they arrived just in nick of time to ace their audition.

Following their successful audition, a producer eagerly told them "we've got a huge success on our hands here," making it clear that this would be a turning point in their careers.

Recounting the memory with warmth and simultaneously debunking any rumours of a falling out with Pauline, Linda said: "Just two friends racing across town on the bus to make it and here we are all those years later, still the bestest of friends."

She mused, "I mean, who would have thought it? " as her colleagues, including Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan and Katie Piper all fans of the much adored show from their childhood showered her with praise, reports the Mirror.

Fans were left reeling amidst whispers of a rift between the beloved stars, Linda and Pauline, who had been inseparable since their primary school days. The duo, who also attended drama club together as teens, shared a bond that transcended typical friendships, captivating audiences on the iconic 'Birds of a Feather' throughout the 80s.

The rumour mill went into overdrive when Pauline was noticeably absent from the show's 2020 Christmas special, an absence that deeply affected both Linda and co-star Lesley Joseph. Speaking on ITV's Loose Women, Linda expressed her disappointment: "I'm not going to lie and say Lesley and I weren't disappointed. Of course we were. We were gutted and we couldn't imagine going on without her."

Despite the setback, Linda conveyed a sense of resilience and understanding, adding: "We were a trio how could it possibly work without any one of us? But at the same time as all that sadness, there was acceptance and understanding, too."

As the whispers about their friendship started to intensify, Linda decided it was time to put an end to the speculation. She said: "Sure enough, the headlines were predictable, saying there was a 'feud' and 'bad blood' and that she'd quit because we were no longer speaking. It's such bulls***. We tried to ignore it but it was difficult when it was all we were ever asked about."

In 2022, the three of them got together for a catch-up, along with Lesley in Central London, putting any rumours of a fallout to rest. On-air, Linda shared: "We had our photo taken together and I got my daughter Roberta to upload it to my Instagram, captioning it: 'A lovely lunch with my beautiful friends.' It was our way of saying, 'There you go, that'll shut you up! '".