Friends and family gather for Lynda Bellingham funeral
Friends and family have gathered for the funeral of actress and TV presenter Lynda Bellingham, who died from cancer last month.
Actress Lynda Bellingham dies after cancer battle
Actress and presenter Lynda Bellingham, who had been suffering from cancer, died yesterday "in her husband's arms", her agent Sue Latimer said today.
The 66-year-old star, best known for her long-running role as a mother in the Oxo TV adverts, had been battling colon cancer, which later spread to her lungs and liver.
In a statement on behalf of Bellingham's family, Latimer, said:
Bellingham's decision to end her treatment was revealed in a newspaper serialisation of her forthcoming autobiography. She had said she would like to see one last Christmas.
Among those paying tribute to the actress and presenter were Carol McGiffin, Jane McDonald and Denise Welch - former co-stars on ITV's Loose Women.
Another, Nadia Sawalha - who also worked with Bellingham on the famous Oxo adverts - told ITV's Lorraine she was "heartbroken" by the news.
Sawalha also said Bellingham had urged her and her fellow Loose Woman presenters to "have a big party" for her when she passed away.
"That's Lynda though and through," she said.
Earlier this month, Bellingham made a moving final appearance on the hit series - receiving two standing ovations from the studio audience.
Asked by a clearly moved Coleen Nolan how she wished to be remembered, the actress replied: "Just an honest person."
Bellingham leaves husband Michael Pattemore and two sons: Michael, 31, and Robert, 26.
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Letter Lynda Bellingham wrote to sons read at funeral
A poignant letter Lynda Bellingham wrote to her two sons was read out by the pair at her funeral service in Somerset today.
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Lynda Bellingham: Fans call for return of Oxo ads
ITV News readers have called for the return of the popular Oxo ad series this Christmas as a tribute following Lynda Bellingham's death.
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Lynda Bellingham's emotional last Loose Women episode
The former panellist and Oxo mum made a final, moving return to the show earlier this month - in which she received a rapturous response.