Linda Robson – Health Scare, Loose Women, and Biography

Linda Robson, the 68-year-old actress best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in the long-running sitcom Birds of a Feather, has been absent from ITV’s Loose Women in 2026 following a serious health emergency. The London-born presenter spent 10 days in intensive care after undergoing major surgery to remove most of her pancreas. She has since described the experience as a near-death ordeal.

Robson, who has been a regular panellist on Loose Women since 2021, reassured fans in mid-2026 that she is recovering and intends to return to the show. Her absence prompted widespread speculation, with some viewers questioning whether she had left the programme permanently. The actress has since clarified her situation in interviews, confirming that her time away was medically necessary and not a career decision.

Her health crisis adds a difficult chapter to a life that has included both professional success and personal hardship. Robson has spoken openly about her struggles with anxiety, OCD, and depression, as well as a breakdown in 2021 that involved alcohol dependency. She is also the mother of three children, including a son who survived the trauma of witnessing a fatal stabbing.

Why Is Linda Robson Not on Loose Women?

Robson’s absence from Loose Women in 2026 was caused by a medical emergency that required life-saving surgery. In late 2025, doctors discovered two tumours on her pancreas, along with damage caused by gallstones. Surgeons removed most of the organ in a major procedure that left her in intensive care for 10 days.

• Robson was admitted to hospital after a cyst on her pancreas grew to 1 cm and tumours were found in a difficult position.
• She underwent surgery to remove most of her pancreas, a procedure she described as “petrifying.”
• She spent 10 days in intensive care and said she “thought I was going to die.”
• As of mid-2026, she reports she is “doing alright now” and “fine now,” though her children remain concerned.
• She was forced to withdraw from a Christmas play due to her health issues.
• Robson has confirmed she intends to return to Loose Women once she has fully recovered, contradicting rumours of a permanent departure.

Who Is Linda Robson?

Linda Robson was born on 13 March 1958 in Islington, north London, and began acting at the age of 10. Her first television role came in 1976 on The Likely Lads, and she went on to appear in shows such as The Bill, Crossroads, and Shine On Harvey Moon before landing the part that would define her career.

What Is Linda Robson Known For?

Robson is best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather, a BBC sitcom created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. The show ran from 1989 to 1998 and was later revived by ITV from 2014 to 2020. Her character, a sharp-tongued working-class woman living on a council estate in Essex, resonated with audiences and made her a household name across Britain.

What Is Linda Robson’s Role on Loose Women?

Robson joined Loose Women as a regular panellist in 2021, though she had previously appeared as a guest. She is known for her candid opinions and warm, relatable style. The show has been a consistent platform for her since then, and she remains a popular figure among its audience.

What Is Linda Robson’s Net Worth?

Linda Robson’s exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed. No reliable estimate exists in accessible sources, and figures that circulate online vary widely. Her steady career in prime-time television, however, suggests she has accumulated a substantial but undisclosed fortune.

How Does Linda Robson Earn Money?

Robson’s income comes primarily from her work in television. Her role on Birds of a Feather ran for 10 years in its original form and another 6 years after its revival. She has been a panellist on Loose Women for over a decade, with breaks between 2018 and 2020. She has also appeared on reality and game shows, and in 2025 she released a memoir titled Truth Be Told, which is listed in her Instagram bio as her first book.

How Did Linda Robson Start Her Career?

Robson began acting as a child, making her first television appearance at age 10. She attended the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington, which launched the careers of several British actors. Her first credited role was on The Likely Lads in 1976, followed by appearances in series such as Shine On Harvey Moon and The Bill.

Was Linda Robson on EastEnders?

Robson has never appeared on EastEnders as a regular cast member. Some viewers have confused her with other actresses, but her known television work does not include a role in the Albert Square soap.

What Did Linda Robson Do Before Acting?

Robson has said she always wanted to act and pursued it from a young age. She trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School, which provided her with early opportunities in television. She did not have a separate career before acting; her professional life has been in entertainment since her teens.

Who Is Linda Robson’s Son?

Robson has three children: a son named Louis and two daughters, Lauren and Roberta. Louis Robson, born around 1998, was deeply affected by a traumatic event in 2008. He witnessed the stabbing of his friend Ben Kinsella, the 16-year-old brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella. Louis later suffered from PTSD, an experience that Linda has said contributed to her own struggles with anxiety.

Is Linda Robson Married?

Robson split from her husband Mark Dunford in 2023 after 33 years of marriage. The couple have a daughter together, Roberta, who is sometimes called Bobby. Robson also has a daughter, Lauren, from a previous relationship. Her marital status following the separation has not been publicly confirmed.

Does Linda Robson Have Grandchildren?

Robson’s Instagram bio describes her as “Mum/Nan/Actress/Loose Woman,” indicating she is a grandmother. The names or ages of her grandchildren have not been made public.

What Happened to Linda Robson? A Timeline of Key Events

1. 1958 – Born in Islington, London, on 13 March.
2. 1976 – First acting role on The Likely Lads.
3. 1989 – Cast as Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather, which ran until 1998.
4. 2011 – Appeared in the film Anuvahood.
5. 2014 – Birds of a Feather revived on ITV, running until 2020.
6. 2021 – Joined ITV’s Loose Women as a regular panellist.
7. 2023 – Split from husband Mark Dunford after 33 years of marriage.
8. 2025 – Released her memoir Truth Be Told.
9. May 2026 – Spent 10 days in intensive care after pancreas surgery; absence from Loose Women.
10. June 2026 – Gave interviews explaining her health scare and assured fans she would return to the show.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Linda Robson?

What Is Linda Robson’s Background and Legacy?

Robson’s career spans more than four decades. Her most iconic role, Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather, placed her at the centre of a sitcom that explored life on a council estate in Essex. The show was notable for its sharp humour and its portrayal of working-class women, and it made Robson a familiar face in British households.

After the original run ended, she transitioned into daytime television as a panellist on Loose Women, where she built a new audience by offering candid, relatable opinions. Her 2026 health scare generated widespread sympathy and media coverage, reinforcing her status as a well-liked public figure. Throughout her career, she has maintained a degree of privacy around her personal life and finances, which has contributed to ongoing public curiosity about her net worth and family relationships.

What Has Linda Robson Said About Her Health and Career?

“I thought I was going to die.”

— Linda Robson, on her intensive care stay, TV Guide, 22 May 2026

“Mum/Nan/Actress/Loose Woman ❤️ ・ first book comes out this Thursday ・ my first-ever memoir, Truth Be Told.”

— Linda Robson, Instagram bio (@lindarobson58)

Robson has also said she is “doing alright now” and “fine now” in interviews from mid-2026, though she acknowledged her children remain concerned about her health. She has confirmed she intends to take a holiday to Cyprus with her two sisters after her pantomime commitments end.

What Is Next for Linda Robson?

Robson has a confirmed role in the 2026 TV series Steal, according to her IMDb page. She has expressed a desire to return to full touring and to resume her position on Loose Women once her recovery is complete. Her memoir, Truth Be Told, is expected to provide further insight into her personal life and career. Readers interested in the careers of other British actresses may find the profiles of Leslie Ash – Biography, Health Crisis, and Life After and Natalie Cassidy – Biography, Age, Family and Career Facts useful for comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions About Linda Robson