Wendy Richard has died

[Perdita]

EASTENDERS legend Wendy Richard’s screen son James Alexandrou collapsed after hearing she had died.

The actor, who played Martin Fowler from the age of 11, choked back tears as he said yesterday: “I think I was in denial about the whole thing.”

James, now 23, had refused to believe the woman he called “Mummy number two” was so near to death from cancer.

He thought 65-year-old Wendy — who played Pauline Fowler — “was tough as old boots and indestructible”, adding: “I collapsed because I wasn’t expecting it.”

James recalled how Wendy told him when he first joined the BBC soap “we were now a family and I had to work very hard and act my best”.

He added: “She brought me up on set and taught me to be a lovely young professional.”

And he revealed how every Mother’s Day he would send Wendy — who had no children of her own — a card.

James and Natalie Cassidy, his on-screen wife Sonia, were among the first to visit Wendy’s heartbroken husband John Burns after her death on Thursday.

Todd Carty, 45, who played Wendy’s oldest on-screen son Mark, revealed how the time he went hurtling into a tunnel on Dancing On Ice had made Wendy laugh in her last few weeks.

He said: “I’m glad I brought her a little joy.”

Actress Laila Morse, 63, who plays the soap’s Mo Harris, has agreed to become an ambassador for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Wendy’s memory.

She said: “It’s my way of doing my bit for her. I’ve had breast cancer and Wendy encouraged me to get checked out.”

Sir Paul McCartney who worked with Wendy on the 1965 Beatles movie Help! also paid tribute to her yesterday.

He said: “She was a lovely lady and a real babe, a really nice girl. We had a lot of fun working with her.

“She went on to do great things. Over the years we’d bump into each other and I would give her a hug.”

[Abbie]

Aww thats really sad

[alvinsduckie]

aw no, so sorry to hear this. my condolences to the families both on screen and off

[di marco]

The EastEnders set will come to a virtual standstill today when more than 100 cast and crew attend Wendy Richard's funeral.

Her co-stars will say a final farewell to the loved soap actress at a church service.

Only a handful of scenes will be filmed on Albert Square by younger members of cast who did not know her.

A source revealed: "Everyone who worked with Wendy wants to be there."

Close friend Todd Carty, who played on-screen son Mark Fowler, added: "We'll give her a great send-off. It'll be a celebration of her life. She was a wonderful person."

Known to millions of BBC viewers as EastEnders' Pauline Fowler, Wendy died aged 65 last month of cancer.

She also starred as Miss Brahms in 70s comedy Are You Being Served.

The BBC said: "It goes without saying that we've reworked filming so people can pay their respects." The service is at St Marylebone Parish Church in Central London.

[Chloe O'brien]

Why didn't they close the set as a mark of respect. I understand that there maybe cast members who hadn't joined the show until after Wendy left but she was an Eastenders Stalwart. Corrie closed filming for the day when William Roache funeral was being held.

[Perdita]

Why didn't they close the set as a mark of respect. I understand that there maybe cast members who hadn't joined the show until after Wendy left but she was an Eastenders Stalwart. Corrie closed filming for the day when William Roache funeral was being held.

William Roache is still alive, his wife died.

Perhaps some members will stay on the set as Wendy had been written out of the soap two years ago and they did not know her. Sarah Roache has been in Corrie and her husband still is. That is all I can think of but I agree with you that they should have closed the set as a mark of respect for Wendy.

[Perdita]

Over 100 EastEnders cast members attended Wendy Richard's funeral earlier today, say tabloid reports.

Around 1000 mourners paid tribute to the actress, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap, at St Marylebone Parish Church in London.

Todd Carty, Barbara Windsor, Steve McFadden, June Brown and Ricky Groves were among her former co-stars at the service.

Richard died from cancer last month, aged 65. Her husband John Burns was by her side at the Harley Street Clinic when she passed away.

An EastEnders spokesperson earlier told The Sun: "It goes without saying that we've reworked filming schedules so that any cast or crew wanting to pay their respects to Wendy Richard can of course attend her funeral.

"A large number of those who worked with Wendy will be attending so a minimal amount of filming will continue at Elstree."

When mourners arrived they were given an order of service, which apparently included the actress's famous chilli con carne recipe. The tracks 'In The Mood' and 'Spirit In The Sky' were played at this afternoon's ceremony.

[Chloe O'brien]

I meant to type William's wife funeral not his. Glad that Wendy got such a large send-off.

[Perdita]

Wendy Richard's husband has paid tribute to his late partner, describing the EastEnders star as his "soulmate".

The Walford favourite passed away on February 26 following a battle with cancer. She was 65.

John Burns, who started dating Richard after they met at a London pub 13 years ago, has now spoken about his grief for the first time.

"We weren't lovey-dovey. She would never hold my hand or stroke my arm - most of the time we were squabbling," Burns told the Sunday Mirror. "But there was deep, deep love there. She was my soulmate."

"She was my mate, my wife, my friend. And I miss her desperately," he continued. "But I feel lucky to have known her. That she chose me."

Burns added that the most poignant moment came when he shot the ending of a documentary that he had been filming about his wife's cancer battle.

"She was so brave, wanting some good to come out of the bad," he explained. "She wanted to show people that chemotherapy wasn't something to be scared of.

"When she died, I had to shoot the ending and talk about Wendy not making it. It was incredibly difficult because - obviously - it wasn't how I'd hoped to end the film. We'd all dreamed of showing her coming out triumphant. Sadly, that wasn't to be."

The programme, titled Wendy Richard: To Tell You The Truth, airs on BBC One on Thursday at 8pm.

[Perdita]

TRAGIC EastEnders star Wendy Richard poses for her last snap with hubby John Burns — taken for a documentary on her battle with cancer.
The 65-year-old actress made the programme called Wendy Richard: To Tell You The Truth in a bid to dispel fears of chemotherapy.

Screened on BBC1 tonight, it shows Wendy declaring: “One thing you must do is not give up, you must remain positive.

“Don’t give up — it’s not the British way of doing things.”

She adds: “You thank God for every day that you wake up and try to get as much out of each day as each day is a blessing.”

Wendy starred as Pauline Fowler for 21 years after finding stardom in sitcom Are You Being Served?

Also featured are James Alexandrou — her Albert Square son Martin — and Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Jackson).

Wendy died last month in a London clinic with John, 45, by her side.

He says: “Just a few hours before she passed away she was sitting up chatting.

“I went to walk our dog and when I came back they asked me to come quick and said I had to say my goodbyes. She passed away peacefully as I held her hand.”