Celebrities unite to pay tribute as Wendy Richard dies of cancer

The actress captured the sympathy of the nation when she revealed in October that her condition was terminal. She had beaten the disease twice, in the mid-1990s and in 2002, but an aggressive new form took hold of her body within the last year.

Cancer spread to Ms Richard's kidneys and bones, but shortly after she received the diagnosis, she married her long-term partner, John Burns, at a high-profile showbiz wedding in London's Mayfair.

Mr Burns, her fourth husband, was by her side as she died yesterday at the Harley Street Clinic in London.

Ms Richard's agent, Kevin Francis, said the liveliness that characterised her life and acting had stayed with her even in her last days.

"She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end," Mr Francis said.

The volume of condolences Mr Burns has received was testimony to her popularity as one of the country's most loved television faces.

Presenter Dale Winton, who had known her since his childhood, was one of the first to pay his respects.

"I knew her as a family friend first since I was a little boy and worked with her many times," Mr Winton said.

"I'm very saddened to hear the news, she was a real fighter and a very kind and funny lady. My thoughts are with her family, she will be missed."

Fellow EastEnders were reduced to tears at news of their colleague's death.

Gillian Taylforth, who played Kathy Mitchell alongside Ms Richard for 13 years, said she was "the loveliest of ladies and a dear friend".

"I remember going out with her many times and she made the most wonderful chilli with chocolate in it from a recipe from a chef at the Dorchester and used to make up an extra batch for me as I loved it so much," Ms Taylforth said. "She was very generous like that, and had a great sense of humour."

Todd Carty, the actor who played Ms Richard's on-screen son, Mark Fowler, said: "Wendy was a fantastic lady, not only to work with as an actor but especially as a friend. She had a heart of gold and always fought my corner on-set and off."

The actor Bill Treacher, who played Ms Richard's on-screen husband, added that the couple had never argued in real life, despite working together for 11 years.

Ms Richard joined EastEnders for the first episode in 1985 and remained with the soap until her character, Pauline Fowler, was killed off in 2006.

In 2000, Ms Richard was made an MBE for services to television, one of the crowning glories in a career that included appearances in Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army, The Likely Lads and the Carry On film series. She also picked up a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007, a year before her disease reached the terminal stage.

Ms Richard left EastEnders after being asked to perform a script that included a cutting diatribe against Margaret Thatcher. She accused scriptwriters of using the series as "a soapbox" for their own opinions.

BBC director general Mark Thompson yesterday praised the "enormous achievement"

of Ms Richard's acting career.

"Her countless BBC appearances across decades, especially as Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and then as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, lit up living rooms for millions of British families who regarded her as a member of the family," he said. "Wendy Richard is going to be incredibly missed by the BBC and by our audiences."

Friend and fellow-broadcaster Esther Ranzen called her television colleague "courageous, honest and brilliant" and added that she was a woman "of huge integrity".

After the diagnosis of breast cancer, Ms Richard worked with Macmillan Cancer Support. Chief executive Ciaran Devane issued a statement saying: "We are saddened by the death of Wendy Richard. Macmillan is very grateful for the support Wendy gave to us."