The BBC have reported that she has passed away.
RIP Wendy
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The BBC have reported that she has passed away.
RIP Wendy
:eek::eek: No way... RIP Wendy
Former EastEnders actress Wendy Richard has died aged 68, her agent has confirmed.
The star, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One show, had been suffering from cancer.
Obituary: Wendy Richard
As downtrodden Pauline Fowler with her beige cardigan, laundry bags and bottle-blonded efforts at glamour, Wendy Richard, who has died aged 68, was one of Britain's most recognisable actresses.
Ruling over her East End family with a will of iron and occasionally kitchen utensils, Pauline was, until 2006, one of only two characters to remain in the series from the very first episode in 1985.
Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt, was the other.
During nearly two decades in the soap, Wendy Richard's character buried her husband, mother and brother, supported her daughter's teenage pregnancy, and coped with her son's HIV-positive condition.
Such episodes were no more traumatic than events in Wendy Richard's own life. Her parents ran a pub where Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, used to drink.
Richard's father committed suicide when she was 11, and her mother died 17 years later. Left without any family, Richard also suffered three divorces, blaming her stressful career for the third.
Comedy credits
Born Wendy Emerton in Middlesbrough but raised in London, she had originally wanted to be an archaeologist. She left school at 15, though, and worked in the fashion department of luxury Piccadilly store Fortnum and Mason.
She headed off to drama school and soon changed her name to "something short and neat". Her leggy, blonde looks soon secured her a role in the Albert Finney film Gumshoe, and on television she appeared in The Likely Lads, Dad's Army and Please Sir.
Other credits included Bless This House, Help and On the Buses. And she carried on with Sid James and his team in the hit films Carry On Girls and Carry On Matron.
Richard also enjoyed chart success in 1962. She went to number one with Mike Sarne, who continually pleaded with her to Come Outside. She was having none of his charm, though, famously telling him to "give over".
Before EastEnders, she was best known as Miss Shirley Brahms, the glamorous but dippy shop assistant, in the long-running BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?
Downtrodden doyenne
From 1973 to 1985, Richard was the resident sexpot of Grace Bros department store and comic foil to the indomitable Mrs Slocombe, played by Mollie Sugden.
The cast reunited for the 1990s sequel Grace and Favour, and Richard even called her own dog Miss Brahms.
But it was as the damaged but undefeated Pauline Fowler that she will be best remembered.
She took no prisoners with her sharp tongue and even resorted to the frying pan when she discovered her husband Arthur's infidelity.
Like the best matriarchs of soap tradition, Pauline's hot temper belied a warm, loyal heart. For nearly 20 years, she was brought to life by Wendy Richard, who said of herself, "I am not a hard person. I cry very easily and my feelings get hurt."
For her contribution to entertainment, she was awarded an MBE in the Millennium Honours List.
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:eek: i couldnt believe it when i read the title! RIP wendy
You know I was just thiking of how she was keeping this week when I was watching the news about Jade Goody's wedding. This is so sad at least she is free of pain.
RIP Wendy.
So sad!! she was a great person! RIP x
RIP :(
She fought a brave battle
I did too. I wondered how she was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien
I hope EE do the same as Corrie and shut down filming for one or two days as a mark of respect.
I am sure they will. I think they did when Mike Reid died.
RIP Wendy, i couldn't believe it when i read the title of this thread :(
this is shokcing news. 65? what kind of an age is that!?
R.I.P Wendy, it actually doesn't seem real this news, it's just so out of the blue (even though I knew she had cancer!) :( :( :(
Oh no...:( RIP
I wonder whether they will have a episode like they did for Reid, a funeral episode.
she already died in EE so I guess notQuote:
Originally Posted by StarsOfCCTV
No, I would not think so as she has already passed away in the soap. They will dedicate an episode to her though, I imagine.Quote:
Originally Posted by StarsOfCCTV
Very sad news. Wendy was an icon of British Television.
I even remember her on "Come Outside" with Mike Sarne which reached no. 1 in the charts.
they'll probably have Ian and Dot sat in the launderette talking about how much they miss her or something like that.
Some of Wendy Richard's former EastEnders co-stars have paid tribute to the actress, who died this morning.
Earlier today, it was announced that the 65-year-old had lost her battle with cancer.
Adam Woodyatt, who plays her screen nephew Ian Beale, said: "I am so sorry to hear the very sad news about Wendy's death. I have many fond memories of our time together at EastEnders and will remember her with affection.
"Knowing that she is no longer in pain and suffering is the only comfort and I hope she rests in peace. My deepest sympathies are with John, their family and friends."
Meanwhile, John Altman - Nick Cotton in the Walford drama - said: "I am shocked and saddened to hear the news today. I always enjoyed working with Wendy, even though our characters were poles apart. I will always treasure the memories of a trip we shared together around the Mediterranean on the QE2 with her husband John and my mother Tina. The world of show business will certainly be a sadder place without her."
John Yorke, head of drama production at the BBC, said of the news: "It is impossible to overstate Wendy's contribution to EastEnders. For 22 years, whether she was bemoaning Arthur's bad luck, cursing her children's wayward nature or reminding us all once again that it was 'all about family', it was impossible for anyone to mention EastEnders without the iconic image of Pauline coming to mind.
"It is hard now to imagine the bravery of casting Wendy as Pauline, so successful and utterly identifiable in the role did she become. She was one of the foundation stones of the show, and with her death EastEnders is diminished. She will be much missed by all of us."
BBC Vision director Jana Bennett commented: "Wendy Richard's death is a huge loss and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this very sad time."
She added: "She started in EastEnders in the very first episode back in February 1985, and became an vital part of life in Albert Square right up until her departure in 2006. Wendy made an enormous contribution to British drama – she was hugely respected and will be much missed."
BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said: "I am enormously saddened by the news of Wendy's death. 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. That was an enormous achievement.
"Millions of viewers and listeners across the world will mourn her passing today and and she will be hugely missed."
Tonight's episode of EastEnders will be dedicated to Richard. It will be followed at 8pm by Wendy Richard: A Tribute.
I totally forgot she had cancer so it came as a shock once again :( RIP Wendy! x
That's so sad. She was always such a massive part of the show and without her, EastEnders wouldn't have been the same. It's such an awful way to go too.. I hope she wasn't in pain :(
RIP Wendy Richard. My thoughts go to her family.
so sad, RIP Wendy
my thoughts are with her friends and family xxxx
Terrible news :( A real shock too. I knew she was suffering from cancer, but hearing her death was still so unexpected as she put up such a brave battle.
RIP Wendy. My thoughts are with her friends and family.
I saw this on Yahoo news and i couldn't believe it. It's a shock and my thoughts go out to her family and friends. R.i.p Wendy x
very sad, thoughts are with friends and family :(
RIP - prayers to her family and friends
Unforgettable as Miss Brahms. And a cornerstone to Eastenders. Sad to losse her this way.
Am really sad to hear this news. Wendy Richard was a wonderful actress and seemed to be truly loved by all those who had the pleasure of working with her.
My thoughts are with her husband, family and friends.
RIP Wendy, Thank you for many hours of happy tv viewing.
Very sad news. Like others have said I knew she had cancer but this still came as a shock, most likely because she hasn't been in the spotlight milking publicity from this illness like a certain other 'celebrity' is at the moment. Wendy deserves a lot of respect for that.
I enjoyed the tribute show after EE too, I didn't realise she'd appeared in so many different shows.
i watched the tribute show too, and like you i didnt realise she had been in all those other things eitherQuote:
Originally Posted by Chris_2k9
I couldnt watch the tribute show so i hope its repeated at some stage..
So sad R.I.P wendy
i didnt realise this was the third time she had battled with cancer what a shame.
RIP Wendy
such a tv legend
speechless
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
OMG! Im shocked thats so sad :(
Such a talented actress. Glad I managed to catch the tribute programme.
I will remember her most for Are You Being Served and Eastenders. Rest In Peace
I was wondering how she was recently too, and didn't know she'd had cancer three times either. It was a great tribute to a brilliant actress. RIP Wendy.
Former EastEnders actor James Alexandrou today paid tribute to his late screen mother, Wendy Richard.
The 23-year-old - who played Pauline Fowler's son Martin Fowler for 11 years - spoke to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning about yesterday's news of Richard's death.
He said: "To me, she was mummy number two. She was lovely, caring and always honest."
"I was glad to send her a Mother's Day gift each year," he added. "She liked that. I never wanted to believe she was ill. She was tough as old boots and I thought she would be OK... I collapsed yesterday when I heard the news."
Alexandrou announced his decision to quit the Walford-based soap in April 2006, only days after screen partner Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler) decided to 'take a break' from the programme.
In the August, their departure was brought forward and the pair left two months after Richard's character Pauline was killed off during the 2006 Christmas episodes.
They have always been very close
Natalie Cassidy has paid tribute to her late EastEnders co-star Wendy Richard, describing the actress as her "second mum".
Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler on the BBC One soap, revealed that she grew close to the Albert Square legend after losing her mother Evelyn to bowel cancer seven years ago.
"I'm heartbroken. It's so sad to lose someone who's so important to me again because of that horrible, horrible word - cancer," Cassidy told the News Of The World.
"I lost my mum to bowel cancer when I was only 19 and after that Wendy and I became so close," she continued. "She cared about me like a mum. I called Wendy my mummy - that's how she would sign off her text messages to me. But she was also a best friend and someone I could talk to about anything."
Richard, who played Sonia's mother-in-law Pauline Fowler, passed away on Thursday following a battle with cancer. She was 65.
"I kept in contact with her husband John Burns every day," Cassidy added. "He told me, 'She went into intensive care but she's cracking jokes and she'll be home soon'. But she took an unexpected turn for the worse. I didn't see it coming."
Cassidy made her final appearance on the soap in February 2007, two months after Richard's character was killed off in the 2006 Christmas episode.
it's on the I Player! I managed to catch it Friday, and it was an interesting programme.Quote:
Originally Posted by pinkles14