Linda Robson admitted that “people missed” Pauline Quirke during the 2020 Christmas special; she claimed it was ultimately her decision to leave the show.

The revelation has been unearthed after it was reported that Pauline was diagnosed with dementia in 2021.

Opening up on the future of the series after the success of the previous festive episode, Linda shared with Express.co.uk: “It did really, really well, and everyone loved it.

“Obviously, people miss Pauline, but we have to respect that it was her choice not to do it anymore.

“She wants to concentrate on her academy. So when they asked us [the producers], we were like, ‘Yeah, we would still like to do it’.

“We’re not ready to finish. I think it worked really well as they did a good script, and we did the best we could with it,” she added.

However, an insider has since suggested there are “real and tense issues”, which is why Pauline was absent from the 30th-anniversary show in 2019 and the latest instalment.

Pauline and Linda play bickering sisters Sharon and Tracey in the ITV sitcom that first launched in 1989.

The show ran for eight years before being rebooted in 2014, and now makes periodic specials that update fans on their lives.

Pauline’s absence from the Christmas special meant her character, Sharon, was written out of the story as being “stuck on a COVID cruise”.

Lesley Joseph, 75, also stars in the show as snooty neighbour Dorien. However, according to the Mail On Sunday, things were difficult for Pauline and Linda.

“Both Linda and Lesley were saddened that Pauline didn’t want to return to make a 30th-anniversary episode,” the source told the paper.

“Linda and Pauline used to be very close, less so Pauline and Lesley. Pauline wasn’t approached about the Christmas special. The atmosphere on the set had previously become difficult; there were real and tense issues,” the insider added.

Addressing the situation behind Pauline’s absence, a spokesperson for ITV said at the time: “Unfortunately, Pauline Quirke will not be taking part as she’s stepping back from acting to focus on her 200 nationwide performing arts academies.”

It has also come to light that Pauline has been living with dementia for the past four years.

Her husband, Steve Sheen, shared in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of dementia in 2021.

“Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA),” Mr Sheen added.