Loose Women star Linda Robson's bold response as an unspeakably rude lady insults Pauline Quirke

Linda Robson on Loose Women
-Credit: (Image: ITV)


Loose Women star Linda Robson was left seething with rage after a pointed insult was hurled at her Birds of a Feather co-star and old friend Pauline Quirke. The outspoken 66-year-old said she would "lose her job" if she revealed the exact words she used to reply were, but made very clear that she didn't hold back in her response.

Speaking on ITV back in July Linda, who has long denied rumours of a feud between her and Pauline, opened up about the moment they were enjoying a meal together in a restaurant when a rude member of the public came over. She told the panel: "There's no excuse for terrible behaviour. I remember once I was out having lunch with Pauline Quirke and there was a big fry-up breakfast in front of us.

Linda Robson
Linda Robson said she and Pauline Quirke were accosted at lunch -Credit:ITV
Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson in Birds of a Feather
Pauline and Linda in a 2014 episode of Birds of a Feather -Credit:ITV

"This woman comes marching over and goes: 'You shouldn't eat that - you'll end up looking like her." To gasps, she added: "It's terrible. I won't tell you what I said because I'll lose my job, but I wasn't happy."

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The story left Linda's Loose Women co-stars reeling, with Coleen Nolan seen shaking her head at the the remark - though some fans reckoned the fact she told the story on TV might not go down well with Pauline. One viewer wrote on X: "Linda Robson is the friend that you could do without!! I am sure Pauline Quirke loves hearing that story!"

Linda and Pauline were huge stars on first the BBC then ITV thanks to the 80s and 90s sitcom Birds of a Feather, which was revived for a later run from 2014 and 2017 followed by Christmas specials. The Loose Women star was Tracey, whose sister Sharon, played by Pauline, moved into her upmarket house after both their husbands were sent to prison for armed robbery.

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Pauline, Lesley and Linda in Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather was originally a three-hander with Lesley Joseph -Credit:ITV

Alongside Strictly's Lesley Joseph, who played their nosy neighbour Dorien Green, the characters pulled in tens of millions of viewers with every episode.

Rumours that all was not well among the cast started to appear when Pauline opted not to appear in the 2020 Christmas special of the show. ITV announced the following year that there would not be any future episodes.

Linda dismissed talk of a bust-up, saying: "It's such bulls***. We tried to ignore it but it was difficult when it was all we were ever asked about." She said she was aware Pauline, who now runs a series of successful acting schools, was going to leave.

The star explained: "I'd had a feeling she was building up to telling us. You don't have a friendship spanning more than 50 years and not get a sense for what each other is thinking."

The three Birds of a Feather stars - including Lesley - further distanced themselves from the idea they had fallen out by posing together for a lunch in 2022 in central London. Linda shared a picture, calling it "a lovely lunch with my beautiful friends".

She also shared shots of them together among a series of shots of her with friends and co-stars on International Womens Day, writing: "Here’s a few inspirational ladies that inspire me everyday!"