Linda Robson admits she surprised her family with Loose Women chat

She’s currently starring in Birds Of A Feather, the 12th series of which is running on ITV.

And Linda’s also well into her fourth year as a regular on Loose Women, where her down-to-earth personality has made her a viewers’ favourite.

“We all get on well,” says Linda, 57, of her fellow Loose Women.

“I know people think it’s all women, so there’s bound to be bitchiness, but there’s a great atmosphere.

“I’ve surprised my family with some of the things I’ve come out with, such as when I told everybody that my husband has his back and chest waxed.

“I’ve got into trouble a few times.”

At least Linda can now read the autocue on Loose Women, after eye surgery last year.

“When we were filming the new series of Birds Of A Feather, we had to have pairs of glasses everywhere as none of us could read without them,” she says.

“When I meet women on the street, they go: ‘I love you on Loose Women, you’re just like me.’

“I think it’s because I’m a mum and a grandmother and a wife.

“I’m not educated, I haven’t got a journalistic background and I don’t read the newspapers because I find it all depressing.

“If I wasn’t an actress, I probably would have worked in M&S.

“I love M&S. I know everyone in my local in Islington, and Sainsbury’s.”

Wherever she shops, Linda’s likely to be wearing her trademark footwear: “My FitFlops!

“And I paid for them, I’m not being sponsored or anything, I just love them. I hate it when it gets cold and I can’t wear them.

“There was an email once on Loose Women saying we had to wear high-heeled shoes when we walk on and I rang up and said: ‘I’m not wearing them. I’m not doing it then!’”

Linda will probably always be best known for her role as Tracey Stubbs in Birds Of A Feather.

This is the third series since it returned two years ago.

But did Linda think it would come back after such a long absence?

“Never in a million years,” she says.

“It was 15 years off the telly, then we did a stage tour with it and it sold out everywhere and we realised there was an audience for it.”

It seems it’s not just her Loose Women ladies Linda gets on well with, as co-stars Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph celebrate each other’s milestones as one big happy family.

“I was delighted to be back working with everyone, I really do look forward to seeing them,” she admits.

“We’ve also had lots going on off screen for us this year.

“Charlie Quirke, Pauline’s son who plays my son Travis, celebrated his 21st birthday, I’ve just had my 25th wedding anniversary and Miss Joseph has just had a big birthday.

“Lesley is 70 and she looks amazing, she’s got so much energy.

“Her mum’s 103 and I keep saying: ‘Oh my God, I’ve got another 33 years of you!’.”