Former Coronation Street actress Gwen Taylor has revealed that she has cancer.

Taylor, who starred in the stage version of Calendar Girls with the late Lynda Bellingham, told the Derby Telegraph that she feels both lucky and guilty that she is winning her own battle with the disease after identifying it early.

Gwen Taylor (Anne, Corrie)
© Rex Features / ITV
Gwen Taylor as Anne in Coronation Street
ynda Bellingham appears on This MorningL
© Rex Features / Ken McKay

"I was in the bathroom listening to the radio when it came on that [Lynda] had passed away," she recalled. "It was just so shocking and deeply upsetting. She was such a nice person.

"It made me think how lucky I am. I had breast cancer and underwent surgery in August. I also had radiotherapy but I haven't needed chemotherapy.

"I'm lucky because the lump was quite tiny and we managed to catch it early. Of course, it was nowhere near as serious as what we've seen happen with Lynda.

"I feel like there's a future for me and I'm really pleased. But I feel guilty - I'm one of the lucky ones."

The 75-year-old actress also described Bellingham as a "wonderful person", who worked hard, did a lot for charity and was also very stylish.

"When I heard her talk on the radio, I thought it was one of the bravest things I've heard," Taylor continued. "The way she spoke about it really got me.

"She was a wonderful person. Off the screen and stage, she was exactly the same smashing woman."

Taylor appeared as Anne Foster in Coronation Street from 2011 until 2012. She also starred as the titular character in ITV sitcom Barbara and had a role in Heartbeat.

After being diagnosed with cancer last year, Bellingham passed away earlier this week (October 19) at the age of 66.

Famous as the Oxo mum and for her roles in Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, The Bill and more, Bellingham also was a regular panellist on Loose Women for several years.