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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kirsty McCormack

The One Show viewers gobsmacked by Dame Sheila Hancock's real age

The One Show viewers were stunned as they tuned into Thursday's show and realised how old Dame Sheila Hancock is.

The British actress appeared in the BBC studio to chat to host Alex Jones about her new book, Old Rage, and her interview went down a storm.

Dame Sheila was joined on the show by comedian Lenny Henry, who was also gobsmacked to learn that she will celebrate her 90th birthday next February.

Speaking about her book, Dame 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.

The One Show viewers were stunned as they tuned into Thursday's show and realised how old Dame Sheila Hancock is (BBC)

"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," she continued.

"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."

Dame Sheila appeared on the show alongside Olivia Williams and Sir Lenny Henry (BBC)

She then added: "Death is imminent for me. Not because I'm ill but because I'm nearly 90."

Lenny looked stunned and commented: "No way! Really?" to which Sheila replied: "I am, of course I am!"

The One Show viewers were just as shocked and took to Twitter to comment.

"Sheila does not look 90 years of age wow #TheOneShow," one person wrote, while another tweeted: "#TheOneShow #lady #90 wow i thought she is younger than that."

The actress was frank and said 'death is imminent for me' as she turns 90 next year (BBC)

A third person posted: "Wow she looks incredible #TheOneShow," and a fourth simply gushed: "Sheila Hancock on the @BBCTheOneShow was bloody brilliant. What an amazing lady."

The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One.

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