Pauline Quirke: Her years in Emmerdale as tragic Hazel as actress reveals sad diagnosis
Pauline has announced she is stepping away from public lifePauline Quirke is a familiar face to Emmerdale fans having played devoted mum Hazel Rhodes for two years.
Pauline may have shot to fame as Sharon in BBC comedy Birds of a Feather but she won a whole host of new fans when she joined Emmerdale in 2010 as Hazel.
Here’s everything Hazel got up to in her time in the village.

Hazel’s arrival
Hazel turned up in Emmerdale in the summer of 2010 without warning to surprise son Jackson Walsh – Aaron’s boyfriend. She and Aaron immediately butted heads but they did grow to get along.
In October that year, Jackson was in an accident and paralysed from the neck down. Hazel stuck around to help care for her son. She was an art teacher and started running classes for the villagers.
She became friends with Bob and was a shoulder to cry on for him when there was a fire in Emmerdale and Bob’s wife Viv, and his mate Terry, were both killed.
Making the best of things
With Viv’s death weighing heavily on her, Hazel worried about what would happen if she wasn’t around to look after Jackson. She hired a carer to help but Jackson wasn’t keen.
She and Aaron also introduced Jackson to quadriplegic Steve Kelly, whose wife was pregnant. They hoped that Jackson would see his life wasn’t over. But Jackson wasn’t convinced.

Pauline Quirke’s character helped Jackson with his bucket list
By the spring of the following year, Aaron and Hazel were devastated when they discovered Jackson’s video diary which revealed he wanted to die.
Heartbroken, Hazel and Aaron decided to help Jackson tick off his bucket list including skydiving and a memorable trip to Whitby.
But even that wasn’t enough to change Jackson’s mind. So reluctantly, Hazel agreed to help. She sacked the carer and she and Aaron mixed a lethal cocktail of drugs for when Jackson decided the time was right.
When Jackson chose the time, Hazel was too upset to put the drugs in Jackson’s mouth, so Aaron was the one to do it. She stayed in Emmerdale for a little while afterwards but decided the memories were too hard and she had to move on.
Hazel did ask Aaron to leave with her, but he decided to stay.
Pauline Quirke left Emmerdale in 2012.
I’m A Celebrity 2025: Who is up for elimination and what time the first person will leave tonight
There are six celebrities facing the axe and one will leave the show across that famous bridge in just a matter of hours.
But who can you vote for to go and what time is the elimination tonight? Read on to find out!
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I'm A Celebrity fans are already wondering when the first elimination is (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
I'm A Celebrity: The first elimination
I'm A Celebrity fans had been desperate to know when the first elimination was. Even before Vogue Williams and Tom Read Wilson had entered camp, some viewers were keen to start voting people out!
Even as far back as last Thursday, one pleaded: "How long until we can get people eliminated? Why does there have to be someone jarring on every season?" Another added: "I can't wait for the eliminations to start, I know who I want out!"
ITV bosses were remaining tight-lipped about the first elimination. But TVGuide did some digging and quickly worked out it would be Day 13, which is TODAY.
Last year, journalist Jane Moore was the first campmate to be given the shove on Day 13 . Loose Women's Charlene White, ex Strictly judge Arlene Phillips and Paralympian Hollie Arnold all left on Day 13 in their respective years.
So here we are - a very unlucky Friday 13th (sort of) for one of these six campmates.
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Jane More was eliminated first on Day 13 last year - and it is Day 13 today (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
Who is up for elimination?
The I'm A Celebrity campmates facing nomination were revealed in last night's episode of the ITV1 show. In a very hideous-to-watch live trial, they were whittled down to an unlucky six.
The camp has been split into two rival teams for the past three days and they all went up against their 'rival' live in front of the nation. But it was a drinking trial, which ended in disaster for some.
Those who downed their disgusting concoction first out of each pair were allowed to sit on the winners' bench. They were told they were safe from elimination.
The celebs who lost out to their rival had to sit on the losers bench. And they are the ones who are at risk of elimination.
They are Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, Aitch, Angry Ginge, Ruby Wax, Alex Scott and Jack Osbourne.
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Viewers still wonder if the Saturday night I'm A Celebrity show is live (Credit: YouTube/ ITV)[/caption]
I'm A Celebrity: How to vote for the elimination
The important thing to remember here is that it is a vote to save. Viewers are not voting for who they want to eliminate from I'm A Celebrity, but instead voting for who their favourite campmate is. The person with the least votes will be eliminated.
Voting to keep your favourite celebrity in the jungle is easy. You can do it via the ITV app or by visiting ITV.com/vote/iac. You have five free votes to use and can use them all on one contestant, or split them across several.
You must be over 14 to vote. The votes will close in tonight's show.
What time is tonight's I'm A Celebrity elimination on?
I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! returns to ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm tonight (Friday November 28, 2025). The show will begin with the antics from the last 24 hours in camp. It will then move to the first elimination.
Ant and Dec will head into camp and announce the results of the first public vote. Either Jack, Ruby, Kelly, Martin, Aitch, Ginge or Alex will be told they are going home.
Once the unfortunate celeb discovers their fate, they will walk across the bridge to meet their loved one (here's who we can expect to see on the bridge this year). A glass of champagne no doubt awaits and a chat with Ant and Dec about their time in camp will follow.
The main show finishes at 10.20pm. You can then head over to ITV2 for I'm A Celebrity: Unpacked, hosted by Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers. This ends at 11.25pm.
I'm A Celebrity continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX on Friday November 28,2025.
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