Work and knitting tea cosies saved me, says McLynn

Pauline McLynn has told of her plunge into depression after quitting the hit television series Shameless two years ago in controversial circumstances.

McLynn, 50, shot to fame for her part as priests’ housekeeper, Mrs Doyle, in the comedy Fr Ted.

The Sligo-born actress joined the cast of Shameless, in 2009, but was written out of the show in Jan 2011.