TV star Leslie Ash made a rare public appearance at the Lido Festival in London this weekend, leaning on a pink walking stick — a quiet but powerful reminder of the long and painful journey she’s endured since a near-fatal infection left her with permanent spinal damage.
The 65-year-old actress, best known for playing Debs Burton in the 1990s comedy Men Behaving Badly, attended the event alongside husband Lee Chapman, opting for a casual look in jeans, pink trainers and a white shirt. But it was her walking stick — and what it symbolised — that caught attention.
Back in 2004, a routine hospital visit turned into a nightmare when Leslie contracted MRSA from an abscess on her spine. The infection destroyed 25% of her spinal column and left doctors warning she might never walk again.
Defying all expectations, Leslie has spent years in and out of hospitals, determined to reclaim her mobility. “It was a nightmare,” she previously recalled. “That part of the spine affects my balance — if I shut my eyes, I don’t know where I am.” She carries the stick not only for support, but to warn others not to bump into her.
Her recovery wasn’t just physical. Ash also battled a long period of depression and reliance on antidepressants, which she now advises against. “They just numb you. You don’t feel happy or sad — just in a zone that’s hard to escape.”
Now, after 15 years of struggle, Leslie says she’s come through it, and her festival appearance sent a strong message of resilience.
Speaking recently about her iconic role in Men Behaving Badly, she reflected on how times have changed: “You probably couldn’t make it today,” she told Richard Madeley. “But people should watch it to understand where we came from.”
