The family of Pauline Quirke has issued an urgent appeal on Instagram, condemning artificially generated photographs of the Birds of a Feather actress that have been spreading across social media.
The fabricated images depict the 66-year-old lying in bed alongside her husband Steve Sheen, prompting her loved ones to speak out against the distressing content.
In their statement posted on the actress's official Instagram account, the family wrote: "Please be aware that images and posts currently circulating about Pauline Quirke are AI-generated."
They emphasised that nobody beyond her immediate circle has any knowledge of her present condition, adding: "These false posts cause unnecessary worry and spread a great deal of sadness."
The family urged the public not to believe or distribute content from unofficial channels.
Ms Quirke received her dementia diagnosis in 2021 and subsequently stepped back from the public eye.
The condition, which progressively affects cognitive function and memory, was only made public knowledge last year.
Her relatives have pleaded with the public to respect the family's privacy during this difficult period.
Pauline Quirke in 2012
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"Let's respect Pauline and her family's privacy and rely only on confirmed, official statements," they stated in their Instagram message.
The family also called on social media users to help combat the spread of false information by sharing their warning.
"Please share to help stop the spread of misinformation," they added.
The former Emmerdale star's loved ones stressed that any updates about her wellbeing should only come from verified official sources.
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Pauline Quirke is best-known for her role in sitcom Birds of a Feather
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Despite the challenging circumstances, the family has shared heartening details about Ms Quirke's current state.
Her son Charlie Quirke revealed to BBC Breakfast in November that his mother continues to recognise those closest to her.
"My mum knows exactly who we are. Every time she sees all of us, she smiles, laughs, says 'I love you', says 'hello'," he said.
Husband Steve acknowledged uncertainty about the precise stage of her illness, explaining: "It's so gradual that for the first year, two years, you're thinking, 'Ah, she's alright'. Now, we're three or four years in, it's a little bit different."
Both Steve and Charlie described their initial reaction to the diagnosis as one of disbelief, initially attributing her symptoms to long Covid or flu.
Charlie expressed surprise that dementia could affect someone in their sixties, noting it can strike people as young as their forties.
Linda Robson, Ms Quirke's longtime friend and Birds of a Feather co-star, offered an uplifting account of a recent visit in December.
The Loose Women panellist, who first met Ms Quirke at theatre school when both were 10 years old, told BBC Breakfast about their reunion at a restaurant three to four weeks prior.
"It was so lovely. She was just giggling, and just really enjoying it, she ate everything as well," Robson recalled. "I left there happy because she was happy, and I knew they were looking after her really well."
Quirke is best remembered for portraying Sharon Theodopolopodous in the beloved sitcom Birds of a Feather.
Her acclaimed performance as a convicted murderer in BBC drama The Sculptress earned her a BAFTA nomination in 1997, and she received an MBE in 2022 for her contributions to entertainment, young people, and charitable causes.