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

Sue Johnston has revealed she spoke to her boyfriend about assisted dying just before he passed away over Christmas.

The Royle Family star, 80, is currently starring in thriller series Truelove, which follows a group of friends who make a pact that rather than let each other suffer a slow and painful decline, they will achieve a dignified death.

Sue was asked about the issue during an appearance on BBC Breakfast and discussed her friend who recently died.

She said: ‘Just before Christmas a dear friend of mine died and I was at his bedside… we were talking about it.’

The actress said it made her think about whether she would want her family next to her “when you’re really gone” and “just kept alive by medication.”

The actress said it made her think about whether she would want her family next to her “when you’re really gone” and “just kept alive by medication.”

She added: ‘I can’t answer the question of whether I would have the courage to do it if someone asked me.’

It comes shortly after Sue supported Dame Esther Rantzen’s assisted dying campaign.

Her comments come amid widespread debate on the issue in recent weeks, sparked by Dame Esther’s announcement that she has joined assisted dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland.

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.

Speaking 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 favor of legalizing it.

She said: ‘I think it’s an option that people should be able to have – it’s their life, their choice.

‘I don’t know if I would want it myself, but then I am not in a position where life is unbearable.

‘People can of course be ruthless and take advantage of a change in the law to get rid of people, so that all needs to be secured. But it would be so, there would be laws.”

She added: ‘I can’t answer the question of whether I would have the courage to do it, if someone asked me’ (pictured in 2019)

Sue’s comments come amid widespread debate on the issue in recent weeks, sparked by Esther Rantzen’s announcement that she has joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.

Dame Esther has once again called for assisted dying to be made available for terminally ill people after families seeing their loved ones undergo palliative care had their memories ‘erased’.

Her call for MPs to hold a debate when Parliament returns in 2024 for a free vote on assisted death comes just weeks after Childline’s founder, who has stage four lung cancerrevealed that she had joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland as an option in case her health does not improve.

Dame Esther said: ‘I think it is a humane decision to hold the debate as soon as possible, to have a free vote, would be a good decision for millions of people – at least we would talk about it.’

According to a Deltapoll survey, 71 percent of the public supported the legalization of assisted dying in Britain, while 13 percent were opposed and 16 percent were unsure. Meanwhile, 72 percent supported plans for a free vote.

The broadcasting legend said the poll showing strong public support is down to people’s feeling that “that’s all we’re asking for, that it’s the choice.”

“We are not asking for this to be imposed on anyone, people have very strong beliefs, some religious beliefs, that would make it impossible for them, we completely understand that,” she told the Mirror.

“But for the rest of us, I think we want to be able to choose a death that doesn’t mean our family has to watch us suffer.”