Linda Robson

Linda Robson (born 13 March 1958) is an English actress and presenter, best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in the sitcom Birds of a Feather between 1989 and 1998 and 2014 onwards and her appearances as a weekly panellist on the ITV series Loose Women from 2012.

In 2011, Robson appeared in the film Anuvahood as K's mum Pauline. In 2012, Robson took part in the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, coming in 9th place.

Early life

Robson was born in Islington, London to an English father and an Irish mother. Robson was educated at Ecclesbourne Primary School, and at the Young Actors Theatre (Islington) Anna Scher Theatre Anna Scher Theatre School both in Islington.

Early career

Robson had a non-speaking role as a young girl amidst a group of roaming 'survivors' in the second series of the original BBC Survivors drama screened in 1976 and then appeared in Pauline's Quirkes (her first regular appearance with Pauline Quirke) and the drama series The Crezz, the comedy drama Shine on Harvey Moon in 1982 and the IRA drama Harry's Game.

Career

Television

Robson subsequently appeared in programmes such as The Bill and Crossroads. She appeared with Jenny Eclair and Dillie Keane in the original cast of Grumpy Old Women Live, a spin-off from the television series Grumpy Old Women, written by Jenny Eclair and Judith Holder. On 9 August 2007, she narrated a show for ITV, called Britain's Youngest Brides. In July 2008, Robson entered Celebrity MasterChef and reached the semi-finals.

In July 2010, Robson made a guest appearance in BBC drama series Casualty, playing the mother of a young man with bipolar disorder. Robson was the first celebrity to arrive in Australia ahead of the 2012 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, but was voted out on the 13th day in the camp on 23 November 2012, finishing in 9th place.

Robson made her debut as a guest panellist on Loose Women on the 19 August 2003, appearing alongside Kaye Adams, Carol McGiffin & Terri Dwyer. Robson returned to the show as a guest panellist on 2 December 2010, before returning as an occasional panelist from 11 November 2011, soon later regular panelist Jenny Eclair left the show in June 2012, this meant Robson was made a regular panelist on 19 June 2012, replacing Eclair. As of 2016 Robson appears on Loose Women 1 or 2 times a week.^[3] Robson made 3 appearances during Series 16, 28 appearances in Series 17, 44 appearances in Series 18, 35 appearances in Series 19 and 57 appearances in Series 20. Robson in Series 21, has so far as of 21 October 2016, made 8 appearances. On 12 November 2016 Robson appeared on Tipping Point Lucky Stars on ITV

Birds of a Feather

Robson played Tracey Stubbs in the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998, starring with Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph. In 2013, it was announced that Birds of a Feather was to return for a tenth series, this time airing on the ITV network. The first episode aired on 2 January 2014 to an audience of over 8 million. After a successful tenth series, it was announced in 2014 that Birds of a Feather would return for an eleventh series, which began on 26 December 2014.^[4][5] In March 2015, it was announced that ITV had commissioned a third revived series (twelfth overall) which began airing in January 2016.^[6] The Final Series has been ordered but will not air until late 2017 at the earliest.

Radio

Robson is an occasional guest presenter for BBC London 94.9. In November 2012, she played the part of Lisa, the hypochondriac mother of Luke (Daniel Mays) in Alexander Kirk's play Told You I Was Ill, episode two in the series Living with Mother on BBC Radio 4.^[7]

Other work

In November 2014, Robson was a part of Gareth Malone's 'All Star Choir',^[8] who released a cover version of Wake Me Up to raise money for the BBC's Children in Need.^[9] The single reached No.1 on the Official UK Singles Chart.

Filmography

Television

1978 "Out" Mo Series written by Trevor Preston

Guest appearances

• I'm Famous and Frightened! (12–14 March 2004)
• The Paul O'Grady Show (2 December 2004, 1 November 2007) – Guest
• Celebrity Come Dine with Me (24 July 2006) – Contestant
• Daily Cooks Challenge (3 August 2009) – Guest
• Celebrity Quitters (2010) – Participant
• Ten Mile Menu (28 July 2010) – Participant
• This Morning (8 July 2010, 19 July, 25 August, 6 September 2011, 24 January, 21 February, 16 April 2012) – Guest
• The Alan Titchmarsh Show (17 March, 11 October 2011, 21 March 2013) – Guest
• Daybreak (10 February 2012, 21 February 2013) – Guest
• Lorraine (18 April 2012, 1 March 2017 ) – Guest
• Pointless Celebrities (12 December 2012, 9 August 2014)^[10] – Contestant
• Through the Keyhole (28 September 2013) – Celebrity homeowner
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (26 October 2013) – Contestant
• The Jonathan Ross Show (18 January 2014) – Guest
• You Saw them Here First (12 March 2014) – Contributor
• Celebrity Squares (8 October 2014)^[11] – Guest
• Mel and Sue (14 January 2015)^[12] – Guest
• You're Back in the Room (12 March 2016) – Guest
• Up Late with Rylan (31 May 2016) – Guest
• Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (12 November 2016) – Contestant
• Good Morning Britain (24 November 2016) – Guest

Film

Personal life

Robson has lived in Islington, North London all her life.^[13] She is married with three children: Lauren (born 1983), Louis (born 1992) and Bobbie (born 1997). By her daughter Lauren she has two granddaughters. Lila, born 2012 and Betsy, born in November 2016.

Robson's father was a chain-smoker, who died of lung cancer when he was 57.^[14] Her mother also died of cancer in August 2012. In October 2013, Robson voiced an interactive video campaign for the British Lung Foundation aiming to ban smoking in cars with children on board in the United Kingdom, in memory of her father.^[15][16]

On an episode of This Morning, Robson matched the Guinness World Record for filling as many pancakes as possible in the space of one minute. She managed to fill six pancakes.^[17]

References

External links

• Linda Robson on IMDb