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Royle Family star Sue Johnston, 80, reveals she spoke about assisted dying with her friend on his deathbed


The Royle Family star, 80, is currently starring in thriller series Truelove which follows a group of friends who make a pact that they will engineer a dignified death.

Dame Esther, 83, has lung cancer and has called on MPs to hold a debate when Parliament returns for a free vote on assisted dying - with recent polls showing growing public support. Talking to Saga magazine, Sue - who played Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy and has also starred in Coronation Street, Brookside and Downton Abbey- said she is in favour of legalising it. Her call on MPs to hold a debate when Parliament returns into 2024 for a free vote on assisted dying comes just weeks after the Childline founder, who has stage four lung cancer, revealed that she had joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland as an option in case her health does not improve.

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