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Lynda Bellingham, presenter and actor, dies aged 66 | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The broadcaster and actor Lynda Bellingham has died within a month of revealing she had stopped her chemotherapy for cancer. | The broadcaster and actor Lynda Bellingham has died within a month of revealing she had stopped her chemotherapy for cancer. |
Her agent, Sue Latimer, said the 66-year-old – who was best known for her role as the mother in long-running Oxo advertisements – died “in her husband’s arms” on Sunday. She had been suffering cancer of the colon since July 2013. | Her agent, Sue Latimer, said the 66-year-old – who was best known for her role as the mother in long-running Oxo advertisements – died “in her husband’s arms” on Sunday. She had been suffering cancer of the colon since July 2013. |
Last month, Bellingham revealed she had weeks to live after deciding to end her chemotherapy; the cancer had spread to her lungs and liver. | Last month, Bellingham revealed she had weeks to live after deciding to end her chemotherapy; the cancer had spread to her lungs and liver. |
Before her death, Bellingham recorded a farewell interview on the ITV show Loose Women, on which she had appeared as a panellist. | Before her death, Bellingham recorded a farewell interview on the ITV show Loose Women, on which she had appeared as a panellist. |
Asked how she wanted to be remembered, she said: “Just [as] an honest person.” | Asked how she wanted to be remembered, she said: “Just [as] an honest person.” |
The Daily Mail quoted her telling the programme: “Trust is a huge thing. Not just as an actor, not just as a lover, not just as a wife … Just to say ‘you could trust her’. | The Daily Mail quoted her telling the programme: “Trust is a huge thing. Not just as an actor, not just as a lover, not just as a wife … Just to say ‘you could trust her’. |
Latimer said: “Lynda died peacefully in her husband’s arms yesterday [Sunday] evening at a London hospital. Her family, to whom she was devoted, would like to thank the nurses and staff for their tremendous care and support. | Latimer said: “Lynda died peacefully in her husband’s arms yesterday [Sunday] evening at a London hospital. Her family, to whom she was devoted, would like to thank the nurses and staff for their tremendous care and support. |
“As an actor, writer and presenter, Lynda was a consummate professional to the very end. Those of us privileged to have known her personally will miss the entertaining, life-enhancing, true and honest friend that blessed our lives.” | “As an actor, writer and presenter, Lynda was a consummate professional to the very end. Those of us privileged to have known her personally will miss the entertaining, life-enhancing, true and honest friend that blessed our lives.” |
Bellingham’s decision to end her treatment was revealed in a newspaper serialisation of her forthcoming autobiography. | Bellingham’s decision to end her treatment was revealed in a newspaper serialisation of her forthcoming autobiography. |
She wrote: “The decision to give up chemo was a huge relief because I took back some control of myself. It’s there on the table if I want it. I don’t want the boys or my husband to see me die a little sad old lady. I want to go out there as I am.” | She wrote: “The decision to give up chemo was a huge relief because I took back some control of myself. It’s there on the table if I want it. I don’t want the boys or my husband to see me die a little sad old lady. I want to go out there as I am.” |
She also wrote that she wanted to live to see one more Christmas. | She also wrote that she wanted to live to see one more Christmas. |
Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray, who is suffering from breast cancer, tweeted: “So sad that #LindaBellingham won’t have that last Christmas with her husband and sons. A great woman gone far too young.” | Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray, who is suffering from breast cancer, tweeted: “So sad that #LindaBellingham won’t have that last Christmas with her husband and sons. A great woman gone far too young.” |
Bellingham’s pre-recorded farewell appearance on Loose Women is due to be screened on Wednesday. | Bellingham’s pre-recorded farewell appearance on Loose Women is due to be screened on Wednesday. |
Fellow Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “That [honesty] is just one of the ways she’ll be remembered: honest, generous, kind, courageous, intelligent, thoughtful – all of those things.” | Fellow Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “That [honesty] is just one of the ways she’ll be remembered: honest, generous, kind, courageous, intelligent, thoughtful – all of those things.” |
She added: “She always left your feeling better about life.” | She added: “She always left your feeling better about life.” |
Bellingham was awarded an OBE in 2013 for charity work. She was married three times and is survived by her two sons. | Bellingham was awarded an OBE in 2013 for charity work. She was married three times and is survived by her two sons. |
During her career she also appeared in the long-running TV drama about Yorkshire vets, All Creatures Great And Small, and starred in a touring production of Calendar Girls. | During her career she also appeared in the long-running TV drama about Yorkshire vets, All Creatures Great And Small, and starred in a touring production of Calendar Girls. |
Other acting roles included the sitcoms 1990s TV show Faith in the Future and Second Thoughts, which began on BBC Radio 4 in 1988 before transferring to ITV. | Other acting roles included the sitcoms 1990s TV show Faith in the Future and Second Thoughts, which began on BBC Radio 4 in 1988 before transferring to ITV. |
The Labour MP Chris Bryant, shadow minister for welfare for reform, described Bellingham as “an embodiment of mischievous graciousness”. | The Labour MP Chris Bryant, shadow minister for welfare for reform, described Bellingham as “an embodiment of mischievous graciousness”. |
Actor Simon Pegg, who starred with Bellingham in Faith in the Future, said: “Lynda Bellingham, a gorgeous, brassy, funny, generous, talented human being. My first TV mother figure and a treasured friend.” | Actor Simon Pegg, who starred with Bellingham in Faith in the Future, said: “Lynda Bellingham, a gorgeous, brassy, funny, generous, talented human being. My first TV mother figure and a treasured friend.” |