Sheila Hancock forgot her age as she admitted she “hated” being called a “national treasure” during a lively appearance on Loose Women.
The TV and theatre actress made her debut on the ITV daytime show on Tuesday and spoke about recently celebrating her 90th birthday.
However, she complained about being made to attend a family party, and as she said she would rather “go for a drink” to celebrate, she stunned the panel when she forgot her own age.
“80 is a hell of a milestone, I feel old now,” she said, as Charlene White exclaimed, “90! You’re 90!”
Sheila rolled her eyes and laughed as she confessed she’d lost track of time as she’d got older.
“I didn’t even notice my 80th,” Sheila explained. “I felt exactly the same, But suddenly, when you’re 90, people start helping you over the road.”
She then poked fun at the Loose Women staff behind the scenes, as she said they treated her differently because of her age, and even asked if she “wanted a carer to come with me”.
“I feel about 100, really,” she lamented. “But I don’t feel treasurable,” Sheila quipped, as she blasted being called a “national treasure” just because of her age.
“If you get as old as me, they automatically call you (a national treasure), and it’s utterly untrue. You get labelled a treasure, even though you might be, like I am, absolutely vile,” she cackled.
“It’s just because you’ve reached that age and you can walk across a stage without falling over,” Sheila quipped.
She went on to discuss her new book, and the audience gasped as she revealed she had written to Janet Street Porter to ask her for a job at the BBC back in the 1980s, but was ignored.
“I wrote a letter, and you didn’t even reply,” Sheila scolded, leaving the red-haired journalist quivering.
“I’m going to find that letter and write a reply,” Janet stated, prompting Sheila to joke: “And hopefully give me a job.”
And viewers were bowled over by the veteran star’s honesty. “What a refreshing change to have someone like Sheila Hancock on #LooseWomen,” one tweeted while a second agreed: “Hasn’t she been fantastic.”
While one was surprised to find out her age, writing: “F*** me, Sheila Hancock is never 90!!!”
