Pauline Quirke - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Pauline_Quirke
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Perpetua Sheen (née Quirke; born 8
July 1959[3][4]) is a retired English actress. She Pauline Quirke
MBE
began her career with roles on various television
series, before fronting her own comedy sketch Born Pauline Perpetua Quirke[1]
show, Pauline's Quirkes, in 1976. She later starred 8 July 1959[2]
as Vicky Smith on the BBC drama series Angels Hackney, London, England
(1982–1983), and achieved fame with her Occupations Actress · writer
portrayal of Sharon Theodopolopodous on the Years active 1970–2022
long-running sitcom Birds of a Feather (1988–
Television Birds of a Feather
1999, 2014–2017), for which she won a British
(1988–1999, 2014–2017)
Comedy Award and was nominated on three
Emmerdale (2010–2012)
occasions for a National Television Award. In
Broadchurch (2013–2015)
1997, she was nominated for the BAFTA Award
for Best Actress for her role in the BBC miniseries Spouse Steve Sheen (m. 1996)
The Sculptress. Between 2010 and 2012, Quirke Children 2, including Charlie
played Hazel Rhodes on the ITV soap opera Website paulinequirke.com (http://pauline
Emmerdale. quirke.com)
Quirke's film appearances include The Elephant
Man (1980), Little Dorrit (1987), and Getting It Right (1989). Other television credits include
Shine on Harvey Moon (1984–1985, 1995), Maisie Raine (1998–1999), David Copperfield
(1999), Down to Earth (2000–2003), Cold Blood (2007–2008), Missing (2009–2010), Skins
(2010), Broadchurch (2013–2015), and You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015).
Life and career
Early work
Quirke began her career as a child actress with an appearance in Dixon of Dock Green.[5]
Another early role was that of an autistic teenager in the 1975 TV drama Jenny Can't Work Any
Faster.[6]
By 1976, she had her own TV show, Pauline's Quirkes, on Thames Television, which featured
pop music, teenage topics, and comedy sketches. This was also the first television show in which
Quirke and Linda Robson appeared together regularly.[7] In 1976, she played the lead role in the
"Special Offer" episode of ATV's Beasts, by Nigel Kneale, also starring Wensley Pithey and
Martin Shaw.[8] Quirke also had a small role in the movie The Elephant Man in 1980. Quirke
played Veronica in Shine on Harvey Moon in 1982.[5]
Quirke's big break came in 1989, when she began playing the part of Sharon Theodopolopodous
in the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather with Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.[5] The series ran on
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the BBC from 1989 to 1998 and was resurrected on ITV between 2014 and 2017, with the final
episode in December 2020 in which Quirke did not appear.
Later work
From 1994 to 1999, Quirke appeared in a series of Surf adverts with Linda Robson, and the pair
worked together on the BBC documentary series Jobs for the Girls.[9] In 1996, she starred in the
BBC television adaptation of The Sculptress by Minette Walters, receiving much critical acclaim
for her performance, including a British Academy TV Award nomination for Best Actress. When
Birds of a Feather ended, Quirke began playing DI Maisie Raine in Maisie Raine, a drama
series for BBC One, which ran in 1998 and 1999.
From 2000 to 2003, Quirke starred opposite Warren Clarke in the BBC series Down to Earth.
She made a return to comedy in 2000 when she starred with Neil Stuke, Robert Daws and Pippa
Haywood in BBC sitcom Office Gossip. After a start with over six million viewers, the show
found its ratings dropped and it was cancelled after only one series. However, Quirke was
nominated for Most Popular Comedy Performer at the National Television Awards for her role.
In 2002, she starred alongside Nitin Ganatra in Being April, a comedy drama for BBC One.
Quirke appeared in Carrie's War in 2004 and in 2005, played a major role in The Bill as Cath
Wilson, a woman wrongly convicted of murdering a child.
In 2006, Quirke played Colleen McCabe in The Thieving Headmistress and in 2008, she
appeared in an episode of My Family as Sharon the Bank Robber. Quirke has frequently been
seen in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing and has appeared on its companion show It
Takes Two more than once. She was a contestant on BBC's Celebrity MasterChef in June 2007,
but was disqualified for creating a dish that was described by Loyd Grossman as "in no way
resembling a meal".[5]
In 2007, Quirke set up The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, which opened at
various locations across the UK as an extracurricular centre for young people who want to learn
performing arts.[10] The academy operates at over 200 locations in the United Kingdom.[11]
In 2009 and 2010, she played the lead role in the BBC daytime drama series Missing as DS
Mary Jane "MJ" Croft, head of a Missing Persons Unit. In May 2010, it was announced that
Quirke would be joining the rural soap opera Emmerdale as Hazel Rhodes, the mother of
established character, Jackson Walsh.[12] Quirke said, "I've never done anything like this before
so it's something different for me and I'm very happy to be a part of it."[12] On 16 May 2011, it
was announced that Quirke had decided to quit Emmerdale. Her character left on 25 January
2012.
From 2013 to 2015, Quirke had a recurring role as Susan Wright in ITV drama series
Broadchurch, appearing in all eight episodes of the first series and returning to feature in two of
the eight episodes of the second series. Her pet Labrador, Bailey, also appeared in the
programme. She was a guest panellist on Loose Women on two occasions. In 2015, she played
the role of Paula Winton in the ten-part comedy thriller You, Me and the Apocalypse for Sky1.
[13]
Quirke decided not to be involved in the final episode of Birds of a Feather in December 2020,
in order to concentrate on her Performing Arts Academies.[14][15]
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Charity work
Quirke is an honorary member of the NSPCC, supports the charities Children with Leukaemia,
Children in Crisis and Children’s Hospices UK. She is a patron of Rennie Grove Hospice.[16]
Personal life
Quirke has two children and is married to producer Steve Sheen, who also worked on Birds of a
Feather as an executive producer from 2014 until 2017. Her son Charlie appeared as Travis in
Birds of a Feather from 2014 until 2017.[17]
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday
Honours for services to young people, the entertainment industry and charity.[18]
In 2025, Quirke's husband announced that she would be retiring from all professional and
commercial duties due to a diagnosis of dementia which she had received in 2021.[19]
Filmography
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Pauline Quirke - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Quirke
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Junket 89 Molly Main role
Dixon of Dock Green Jane Taylor 1 episode
1971
Softly, Softly: Task Force Janice West 1 episode
1972 The Problem with 2B Molly Main role
1973 Malachi's Cove Store Girl Supporting role
Recurring role (3
The Tomorrow People Student
1974 episodes)
Play for Today Checkout Girl 1 episode
Shadows Dawn 1 episode
1975
Jenny Can't Work Any Faster Jenny Television film
1975–1976 You Must Be Joking! Various (3 episodes)
1976 Beasts Noreen Beale 1 episode
1976 Pauline's Quirkes Herself - presenter 6 episodes
Kate Morahan/Vicky Regular roles (66
1976–1983 Angels
Smith episodes)
Television Club Pud Regular role (6 episodes)
1977
The Duchess of Duke Street Pearl (2 episodes)
1978 Crown Court Patsy Donovan 1 episode
Regular role (11
1979 Lovely Couple Carole Richards
episodes)
Ain't Many Angels Various Television film
The Further Adventures of
Charlotte Regular role (9 episodes)
1980 Oliver Twist
Both Ends Meet Cissy White Television film
The Elephant Man 2nd Whore Minor role
Play for Today Eleanor 1 episode
The Story of the Treasure
Eliza Regular role (6 episodes)
1982 Seekers
The Return of the Soldier Girl in Hospital Minor role
Q.E.D Jane 1 episode
Recurring roles (13
1984–1995 Shine on Harvey Moon Veronica
episodes)
1986 Girls on Top Cleaner 1 episode
Hardwicke House Gladys 1 episode
1987
Little Dorrit Maggie Supporting role
Rockliffe's Babies Lorraine Morelli 1 episode
1988 Distant Voices, Still Lives Doreen Supporting role
Casualty Mary Taylor 1 episode
1989 Getting It Right Muriel Sutton Supporting role
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Pauline Quirke - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Quirke
1989–1998, 2014– Sharon
Birds of a Feather Main role (128 episodes)
2017 Theodopolopodous
1995–1996 Jackanory Storyteller 2 episodes
The Sculptress Olive Martin Main role (4 episodes)
1996
Waiting for Giro Bo Short film
Our Boy Sonia Williamson Television film
1997 The Canterville Ghost Madame Murielle Television film
Deadly Summer Linda Topping Television film
1998–1999 Maisie Raine D.I. Maisie Raine Main role (12 episodes)
1998–1999 Real Women Mandy Evans Regular role (7 episodes)
Last Christmas Gwen Television film
1999 David Copperfield Peggotty Main role (2 episodes)
Real Women 2 Mandy Evans Main role
2000 Checkout Girl Lynda Short film
Regular role (18
2000–2003 Down to Earth Faith
episodes)
Office Gossip Jo Regular role (6 episodes)
Arthur's Dyke Janet Main role
2001 Randall and Hopkirk
Felia Siderova 1 episode
(Deceased)
Redemption Road Joan Supporting role
Murder in Mind Jane Saunders 1 episode
2002
Being April April Regular role (6 episodes)
Carrie's War Hepzibah Green Television film
2004
North & South Dixon Regular role (4 episodes)
Recurring role (5
2005 The Bill Cathy Wilson
episodes)
The Thieving Headmistress Colleen McCabe Television film
2006
Casualty Jackie Rogers 1 episode
Recurring role (4
2007–2008 Cold Blood D.I. Hazel Norton
episodes)
2008 My Family Joan 1 episode
Regular role (15
2009–2010 Missing D.S. Mary Jane Croft
episodes)
Recurring role (3
Skins D.S. Blunt
2010 episodes)
The Perfect Burger Mrs. Grieves Supporting role
Series Regular (222
2010–2012 Emmerdale Hazel Rhodes
episodes)
2013 Grace's Story Nat Short film
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Pauline Quirke - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Quirke
Recurring role (10
2013–2015 Broadchurch Susan Wright
episodes)
2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse Paula Regular role (6 episodes)
Selected stage credits
Year Title Role Notes
1990–1991 Cinderella Ugly Sister Hackney Empire
1991–1992 Dick Whittington Dick Hackney Empire
2012 Birds of a Feather Sharon Theodopolopodous UK Tour
2016–2017 Cinderella Fairy Godmother The Beck Theatre, Hayes
Awards and nominations
Year Nominated For Award Category Result
1990 Best TV Comedy Newcomer Won
Birds of a Feather British Comedy Awards
1990 Best TV Comedy Actress Nominated
1997 The Sculptress BAFTA TV Awards Best Actress Nominated
1997 Most Popular Comedy Performer Nominated
1998 Birds of a Feather Most Popular Actress Nominated
1999 National Television Awards Nominated
Most Popular Comedy Performer
2001 Office Gossip Nominated
2002 Down to Earth Most Popular Actress Nominated
2011 Emmerdale The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Nominated
References
1. "Page B23 | Supplement 63714, 2 June 2022 | London Gazette | the Gazette" (https://www.t
hegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63714/supplement/B23).
2. Screen, Andrew (5 October 2023). The Book of Beasts: Folklore, Popular Culture and Nigel
Kneale's ATV TV Series (https://books.google.com/books?id=XjfaEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22pauli
ne+quirke%22+%221959%22&pg=PT201). SCB Distributors. ISBN 978-1-915316-10-3.
3. Quirke, Pauline (2013). Where Have I Gone? (https://books.google.com/books?id=1xmqS8ir
P20C&pg=PP1). Corgi. ISBN 978-0-552-16564-8.
4. Screen, Andrew (5 October 2023). The Book of Beasts: Folklore, Popular Culture and Nigel
Kneale's ATV TV Series (https://books.google.com/books?id=XjfaEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22pauli
ne+quirke%22+%221959%22&pg=PT201). SCB Distributors. ISBN 978-1-915316-10-3.
5. "BBC TV & Food Masterchef Bio's" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071127133107/http://ww
w.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/masterchef/celeb_biogs_index2.shtml). bbc.co.uk. 27
November 2007. Archived from the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/maste
rchef/celeb_biogs_index2.shtml) on 27 November 2007.
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Pauline Quirke - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Quirke
6. "Jenny Can't Work Any Faster" (https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fe2g8x/jenny-ca
nt-work-any-faster/). radiotimes.com. 8 December 1975.
7. "PAULINE'S QUIRKES 1976" (https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-show
s-1970s/paulines-quirkes/). nostalgiacentral.com. 1976.
8. "Beasts (1976)" (http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1232046/index.html2).
screenonline.org.uk. 1976.
9. Glazer, Ella, ed. (2002). Fun with the Famous. Robson. p. 83. ISBN 1861055838. "Pauline
and I were doing a series called Jobs for the Girls. That particular week I was asked to go
and work for The Guardian newspaper as a photographer"
10. Turner, Clare (19 January 2022). "Pauline Quirke Academy hosts free open day in Bedford"
(https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/education/pauline-quirke-academy-hosts-free-open-day-in-
bedford-3533628). Bedford Today. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
11. "Pauline Quirke Academy - Our Story" (https://www.pqacademy.com/what-we-do/our-story/).
12. Green, Kris (28 May 2010). "Pauline Quirke joins 'Emmerdale' " (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/
soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a222433/pauline-quirke-joins-emmerdale.html). Digital Spy.
Retrieved 28 May 2010.
13. "You, Me and the Apocalypse – Character Guide – British Comedy Guide" (http://www.come
dy.co.uk/guide/tv/you_me_apocalypse/characters/). Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October
2015.
14. " 'Birds of a Feather' returning for Christmas special without Pauline Quirke" (https://financ
e.yahoo.com/news/birds-of-a-feather-christmas-special-pauline-quirke-154129158.html).
yahoo.com. 4 November 2020.
15. Eames, Tom (12 March 2015). "Birds of a Feather renewed for 12th series by ITV – TV
News" (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a634764/birds-of-a-feather-renewed-for-12th-seri
es-by-itv.html#~p6JzUcgaezVaUG). Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
16. "Pauline Quirke MBE" (https://www.pqacademy.com/about-us/pauline-quirke-mbe/).
17. Martland, Lisa (17 April 2014). "The Stage Scholarships 2014 – Pauline Quirke Academy of
Performing Arts" (http://www.thestage.co.uk/columns/scholarships/2014/04/stage-scholarshi
ps-2014-pauline-quirke-academy-performing-arts/). Retrieved 5 July 2014.
18. "No. 63714" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63714/supplement/B23). The
London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B23.
19. "Pauline Quirke: Birds of a Feather star reveals dementia diagnosis" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/
news/articles/cdxengknyvgo). BBC News. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
External links
Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (http://www.pqacademy.com)
Pauline Quirke (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704351/) at IMDb
Pauline Quirke (https://web.archive.org/web/20170425201219/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-
people/4ce2ba236c1f8) at the British Film Institute
Pauline Quirke at BBC Comedy Guide (https://web.archive.org/web/20070213162704/http://
www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/q/quirke_pauline.shtml)
Pauline Quirke at BBC Drama Faces (https://web.archive.org/web/20070209175523/http://w
ww.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/pauline_quirke.shtml)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pauline_Quirke&oldid=1289325908"
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