Viewers of The One Show were left shocked after finding out Dame Sheila Hancock's age. It comes after the award winning actress appeared on the BBC One programme to promote her new book Old Rage on Thursday night (June 9).
Dame Hancock was a guest in the BBC studio alongside comedian Lenny Henry who was left floored after he found out she is 89 years old. When talking about her new book, 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."
Birmingham Live reports that Sheila added: ""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.
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"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." She then added: "Death is imminent for me. Not because I'm ill but because I'm nearly 90."
A stunned Lenny Henry said: "No way! Really?" Sheila replied: "I am, of course I am!" Viewers were also taken aback by the revelation. @jan321321321 wrote on Twitter: "#TheOneShow #lady #90 wow i thought she is younger than that."
@DdubEternalLove said: "Wow she looks incredible #TheOneShow." Sheila won a Laurence Oliver Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role in Cabaret in 2007.
She was also nominated for Laurence Oliver Awards five other times in her career for her work in Annie, Sweeney Todd, The Winter's Tale, Prin and Sister Act.
