Viewers of BBC's The One Show were left shocked to discover Sheila Hancock's age. The actress appeared on the show to promote her new book when she confirmed how many years she has been alive.
Dame Sheila appeared on the show on Thursday night (June 9) and told how she is now 89 years old and that death is 'imminent' for her, not because she is ill but because she is 'nearly 90'.
She appeared on the show alongside Lenny Henry who was shocked to discover her age. He said said: "No way! Really?" Sheila replied: "I am, of course I am!"
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Speaking about her new book, Old Rage, Sheila said: "I was asked by the publisher to write an inspirational book about old age and about death not being frightening and then Brexit happened and I was rage, despair, desperation, beside myself.
"Then my daughter got desperately ill so I was frightened to death. Then I got very ill and got a thing called rheumatoid arthritis which changes your whole life very much. Then I was locked down because I was very vulnerable with the virus thing.
"So it suddenly became a book more honestly about old age than the one I was going to do. What I've tried to do is write about life as it truly is."
Viewers took to social media to express their surprise at her age, BirminghamLive reports. One user said: "#TheOneShow #lady #90 wow i thought she is younger than that."
Another wrote: "Wow she looks incredible #TheOneShow."
Sheila won a Laurence Oliver Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role in Cabaret in 2007. She was also nominated for Laurence Oliver Awards five other times in her career for her work in Annie, Sweeney Todd, The Winter's Tale, Prin and Sister Act.
