Prunella Scales' gut-wrenching comment about husband in final TV appearance

Prunella Scales and Timothy West spoke of their profound affection for one another in their final interview together. The EastEnders actor disclosed that he had noticed a possible indication of his wife Prunella's dementia years prior to her official diagnosis being confirmed.

Timothy, recognised for his appearances in programmes such as EastEnders, died at the age of 90 in November 2024. Just under a year later, Prunella's death has been revealed today. In what is thought to be amongst his final interviews, carried out in 2023, Timothy discussed his wife Prunella's struggle with dementia.

The pair featured on BBC Breakfast for a joint interview, in what would become their final television appearance together. Prunella, who is best remembered for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty in the beloved sitcom Fawlty Towers, was given her dementia diagnosis in 2014, reports the Mirror.

Nevertheless, Timothy indicated that he initially detected symptoms of the illness as far back as 2001. Looking back on the occasion he first witnessed his wife's deterioration, he admitted having a private thought: "She's not totally with it."

He revealed: "I came to see a play that Pru was doing in Greenwich. I went to see the first night and it was good, much enjoyed by the audience, and then I went to see it again a bit later on and I thought 'Pru's not ... it's strange. She's not totally with it.'"

Despite these early warning signs, her formal dementia diagnosis wasn't confirmed until more than ten years afterwards. Timothy remembered: "We went to see a specialist who just said 'I'm sorry this is just something that happens to you when you get older'.

"It's not going to get any easier but you can cope with it. We manage."

Despite the challenging circumstances they encountered, Prunella remarked: "I have got to know him better and better and better."

Timothy continued: "I know that things are going to change a little bit, but it has been a long time and we have managed pretty well really. I don't think we ever think 'oh no.'"

Prunella then revealed: "I have been asked to live the rest of my life with somebody I respect very much and agree with a lot of things and argue with about a lot of things quite happily."

During an interview with the BBC, which took place before Timothy's book launch, he was asked about his wife Prunella's vascular dementia diagnosis. He explained that "somehow" they have "coped" throughout the years.

"Pru doesn't really think about it," he added. The pair were married for decades, having wed in 1963.

The pair share two sons, actors Samuel West and Joseph West. Their family also includes Timothy's daughter Juliet West from an earlier relationship.