Former Eastenders star Wendy Richard dies from breast cancer

Former Eastenders star Wendy Richard died yesterday after a long fight with cancer.

Wendy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, which was treated surgically - but the disease returned in 2002. She underwent three years of treatment before it went into remission in 2005, but in October last year, confirmed that the cancer had returned for a third time with doctors labelling it terminal after it spread to her kidneys and bones.

Her agent confirmed her death yesterday, explaining that she died in the private Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband John Burns at her side. The couple began dating in 1996 but only married after Wendy’s final diagnosis last October.

Her agent Kevin Francis added: “She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end.”

The actress rose to fame in the 1960s in a number of popular British television shows and films, before joining the cast of Are You Being Served? in 1972. After 13 years on the sitcom, she left to take on the role of matriarch Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap. She played Pauline for 21 years until the character was killed off at Christmas 2006.