Su Pollard is living life to the fullest in honour of late pal Ruth Madoc.
The Hi-de-Hi! legends were friends for more than 40 years.
So when Ruth, who played yellowcoat Gladys Pugh in the sitcom, died aged 79 last December, it made her take stock.
READ MORE: EastEnders icon ‘rescued naked from bathroom’ amid medical emergency
Su, who starred as cleaner Peggy, vividly remembers the moment she heard the news.
She told the Daily Star Sunday: “It was ever such a shock. It was terrible. I was about to do panto and I got a phone call to say Ruth had broken her leg.
“I found out what hospital she was in and I phoned her. And then a few days later she was gone.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“It was tragic, but it made me think about life. I thought, ‘OK girl, I’m going to live for you’. The thing is, I’m 73. Hopefully, I’ll live a long, long time. But by the law of averages, I could be, sadly, not with us in 10 years’ time.
“So you have to really enjoy what’s to come and embrace everything. Because you just never know.” Su wants to keep taking on experiences that come her way. She added: “You’ve got to grab opportunities. It’s no good being fearful. Give something a go if you think you can do it.
(Image: Daily Record)
“I don’t mind doing anything so long as it’s fun. Today won’t come again, so enjoy it.”
In recent years plucky Su has done shows such as Celebrity MasterChef, and is on the new series of BBC show Pilgrimage, in which seven celebs go on a challenging modern-day pilgrimage. It was another life-changing experience for her.
She said: “I got emotional because I’m very grateful to still meet people that you connect with and you find a bit of joy and kindness.”
(Image: Grab)
It gave her time to think about loved ones she’s lost. She said: “I believe people can look down on us. I think that’s a great comfort. They’re watching somewhere.
“Me and my sister say this is a dress rehearsal. You do go somewhere better. There’s no greediness, there’s no material things. It’s a different way of being.”
Pilgrimage starts on Friday at 9pm on BBC Two.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
