Linda Robson says she was told her 50-year showbiz career would be over after signing up for a controversial TV show.
The Loose Women star was one of five celebrities who took part in ITV series Gone To Pot back in 2017.
She joined EastEnders star Pam St Clement, actor Christopher Biggins, sports star and presenter John Fashanu and darts player Bobby George on the show.
It followed the stars as they toured America on a psychedelic tour bus to explore how cannabis is used for recreational and medicinal purposes.
During the trip, Linda and the rest of her co-stars tried cannabis in various forms and the show – which called for it to be legalised in the UK – was a hit with critics and viewers alike.
But Linda has since revealed she was warned by her agent that she would be committing ‘career suicide’ if she took part.
The 65-year-old told The Sun : “My agent thought it was risky when I was asked to do Gone To Pot.
“She said, ‘I don’t think you should do it. You’re a daytime face on television. You’ll probably never work again.’
“But I said, ‘The series I’m doing is for ITV. I do most of my work for ITV anyway so I don’t see how it can hurt in any way.’”
Linda revealed the deciding factor was what her three kids – Lauren, 40, Louis, 31, Roberta, 27 – thought.
When she asked them whether or not she could do the show, the reply was a resounding yes.
She shared they told her they thought she was ‘the coolest mum in the world’ and were all for her taking part.
And it doesn’t appear to have hurt Linda’s career in any way, as she suspected, as she is still a regular presenter on Loose Women.
The Mirror exclusively revealed Linda has just landed a part in a big screen gangster film, which will begin filming later this year.
The star is said to be “excited” to take on her first movie role in 10 years as part of British flick Bermondsey Tales: Fall of The Roman Empire.
Linda, best known from classic sitcom Birds of a Feather, plays Kath, a mob boss’s relative.
She will star alongside ex- EastEnder Maisie Smith, 21, and Kidulthood actor Adam Deacon, 40.
Insiders told The Mirror producers were desperate to land Linda and are ‘thrilled’ she has agreed to play Kath.
"They feel she is perfect for the role and will do a brilliant job of bringing it to life,” a source added.
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