jade goodyJade Goody has revealed that she received a supportive phone call from Wendy Richard before her wedding last week.

The pair met while both undergoing cancer treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London last October and Jade was thrilled to receive support from the former Eastenders star, who had twice previously beaten cancer. Wendy died from the disease yesterday morning with husband John Burns at her side - like Jade, Wendy married her long term partner after finding out her cancer had spread and doctors couldn’t do anything more to stop its progress.

Jade explained: “She was brilliant to me. She said just to keep fighting and make the most of my life.

“She was a lovely lady and all my love goes out to her family.”

Jade’s spokesperson Max Clifford added that Wendy was invited to Jade’s wedding but she was too ill to attend: “She phoned [instead] and sent lots of love. She said she would have loved to have been there but was too sick. She told Jade she would be thinking of her.

“She said: ‘Stay strong, I’m thinking of you, we’re in the same boat.’ Wendy encouraged Jade not to give up. Jade told me she was supportive and lovely.”