Linda Robson quashes Pauline Quirke feud rumours with endearing five-word comment

Linda Robson has continued to slam rumours around her long-standing friendship with Pauline Quirke.

There was buzz around the studio as Linda celebrated 35 years since the popular One programme Birds Of A Feather first aired on screens. It was at this point, the actress recalled how she and Pauline had first been scouted.

Chatting to her fellow panelists about her big television break on Wednesday's (October 16) episode, Linda recalled the pair racing against the clock and across town on a bus together. They made it to the studio with seconds to go and completely knocked it out of the park with their audition.

After they'd showcased their acting skills, one producer approached them saying "we've got a huge success on our hands here," and the pair immediately knew their lives were about to change for the better.

Detailing the moment with fondness while also shutting down rumours that she and Pauline were ever at loggerheads, Linda explained: "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."

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She added: "I mean, who would have thought it?" There were gushes of praise as Linda received warm compliments from her co-stars, Christine Lampard, and Katie Piper, who had all grown up with the much-loved programme on their screens at home.

Previously, there had been growing speculation over a possible feud between the two stars left fans heartbroken, especially after knowing Linda and Pauline's history off-screen.

The pair were best friends since primary school and even joined a drama club as teenagers together. Their friendship went beyond that of a normal pals, with their relationship blossoming in front of millions of viewers on the hit show Birds of a Feather throughout the 80s.

Rumours that there had been trouble in paradise between the pair started to swirl when a episode aired in 2020 but Pauline chose not to be part of the production, leaving Linda and Lesley Joseph "devastated".

At the time, Linda shared on ITV's Loose Women that she'd been upset over Pauline's decision but reassured fans it would not impact their friendship. She said: "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.

"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."

After the chimes about their friendship began to escalate, Linda knew it was time to stop the rumours in their tracks. She added: "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 trio reunited for a meet-up, along with Lesley in Central London, dispelling any falling-out gossip. Linda revealed on-air: "We had our photo taken together and I got my daughter Roberta to upload it to my , captioning it: "A lovely lunch with my beautiful friends.' It was our way of saying, 'There you go, that'll shut you up!'"

Loose Women airs on ITV1, from 12:30pm, weekdays.