The very sad news of Lynda Bellingham's passing is circulating this morning. The actress, who was diagnosed with Colon Cancer just a little over a year ago, reportedly died in hospital yesterday, while lying in her husband's arms.
Bellingham had openly spoken of stopping her cancer treatment on August 13th so her family would be spared the sight of her suffering. She said: "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."
A statement released by her agent reads: "Lynda died peacefully in her husband's arms yesterday 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."
Best remembered as everyone's mammy in the Oxo adverts, the 66-year-old had a varied career, appearing in Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, General Hospital, and a panelist on Loose Women.
Before she died, she released a serialisation of her autobiography. One extract reads: "I wrote the book for everybody out there. It's not supposed to be an embarrassing account of me having terminal cancer. I wanted to write it for everybody who is given that curveball and say of course there are no answers but, if you can, take it and make it positive and talk about dying. If two people read this book and think 'Actually, that's how I feel and I'm not on my own', then I'll have done something half decent."
