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| Actress Wendy Richard dies at 65 | Actress Wendy Richard dies at 65 |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Former EastEnders actress Wendy Richard has died at the age of 65, her agent has confirmed. | |
| The star, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One soap opera, had been suffering from cancer. | The star, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One soap opera, had been suffering from cancer. |
| Her agent Kevin Francis said: "She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end." | Her agent Kevin Francis said: "She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end." |
| Last October, Richard revealed she had an aggressive, terminal form of cancer. Soon after that she married her long-term partner John Burns. | Last October, Richard revealed she had an aggressive, terminal form of cancer. Soon after that she married her long-term partner John Burns. |
| Planned funeral | Planned funeral |
| Francis said the star passed away in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband by her side. | Francis said the star passed away in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband by her side. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Express last year, Richard revealed she had already planned her funeral and written her will. | In an interview with the Sunday Express last year, Richard revealed she had already planned her funeral and written her will. |
| She discovered the disease had returned after her usual annual check-up, which revealed cancerous cells in her left armpit. THE CAREER OF WENDY RICHARD 1965 Aged 22, joins the cast of soap The Newcomers1970-73 Stars in four episodes of Dad's Army as Private Walker's girlfriend, Shirley1972 Plays Miss Willing in Carry On Matron1972-85 Stars as Miss Brahms in the series Are You Being Served? (pictured)1985-2006 Appears in more than 1,400 episodes of EastEnders as Pauline Fowler2008 Films her last TV role as Mrs Crump in Marple: A Pocket Full Of Rye | She discovered the disease had returned after her usual annual check-up, which revealed cancerous cells in her left armpit. THE CAREER OF WENDY RICHARD 1965 Aged 22, joins the cast of soap The Newcomers1970-73 Stars in four episodes of Dad's Army as Private Walker's girlfriend, Shirley1972 Plays Miss Willing in Carry On Matron1972-85 Stars as Miss Brahms in the series Are You Being Served? (pictured)1985-2006 Appears in more than 1,400 episodes of EastEnders as Pauline Fowler2008 Films her last TV role as Mrs Crump in Marple: A Pocket Full Of Rye |
| She told the paper: "Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones. | She told the paper: "Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones. |
| "It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs." | "It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs." |
| Minder star Shane Ritchie, who played EastEnders' character Alfie Moon alongside Richard until 2005, said he was, "absolutely devastated" by news of her death. | Minder star Shane Ritchie, who played EastEnders' character Alfie Moon alongside Richard until 2005, said he was, "absolutely devastated" by news of her death. |
| "I send all my love to John and her immediate family," he added. | "I send all my love to John and her immediate family," he added. |
| Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, said: "Wendy Richard is going to be incredibly missed by the BBC and by our audiences." | Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, said: "Wendy Richard is going to be incredibly missed by the BBC and by our audiences." |
| Veteran actress, June Whitfield, added: "She was always delightful. | Veteran actress, June Whitfield, added: "She was always delightful. |
| "I'm very, very sorry. I did not work with Wendy. We met at dos. It's very sad." | "I'm very, very sorry. I did not work with Wendy. We met at dos. It's very sad." |
| 'Funny and witty' | 'Funny and witty' |
| Presenter Dale Winton had known Richard for years. | Presenter Dale Winton had known Richard for years. |
| "I'm very saddened to hear the news, she was a real fighter and actually a very kind and funny lady in her own right," he said. | "I'm very saddened to hear the news, she was a real fighter and actually a very kind and funny lady in her own right," he said. |
| "My thoughts are with her family, she will be missed." | "My thoughts are with her family, she will be missed." |
| In 2000, Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television and in 2007 she was given a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement for her role in EastEnders. | In 2000, Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television and in 2007 she was given a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement for her role in EastEnders. |
| As well as her 21 years on Albert Square, Richard starred in sitcoms Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army and Grace and Favour. | As well as her 21 years on Albert Square, Richard starred in sitcoms Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army and Grace and Favour. |
| She joined EastEnders when the programme began in 1985 and remained in it until 2006, when her character died. | She joined EastEnders when the programme began in 1985 and remained in it until 2006, when her character died. |
| The reason she gave for her departure was because she objected to a storyline that saw her character remarry. | The reason she gave for her departure was because she objected to a storyline that saw her character remarry. |
| "I left because I wasn't happy," she revealed in 2008. "Also, I couldn't believe in what they wanted me to do and unless I can find some truth in what I am doing, I cannot play it. | "I left because I wasn't happy," she revealed in 2008. "Also, I couldn't believe in what they wanted me to do and unless I can find some truth in what I am doing, I cannot play it. |
| "Pauline remarrying was wrong. Some women never remarry. My mother never remarried after Daddy died. I always had it in my heart that Arthur was Pauline's husband and that was that." | "Pauline remarrying was wrong. Some women never remarry. My mother never remarried after Daddy died. I always had it in my heart that Arthur was Pauline's husband and that was that." |