Tributes have poured in from across the showbusiness world for actress Wendy Richard who has lost her battle with cancer.
The former EastEnders star, described as one of the greats of British television, passed away in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband, John Burns, by her side.
Richard, 65, will be best remembered as cardigan-wearing matriarch Pauline Fowler in EastEnders - a part she played for 21 years. Richard joined EastEnders when it launched in 1985 and stayed at the soap until Christmas 2006, when her character died.
She was awarded an MBE for services to television in 2000.
Before joining the soap she was already well-established as an actress playing Miss Brahms in the hit sitcom Are You Being Served?
Bill Treacher, who played Richard's on-screen husband Arthur Fowler in EastEnders, said: "Wendy and I worked together for 11 years and in all that time never quarrelled. We were both totally professional and I am truly saddened to hear this news."
Minder star Shane Ritchie, who worked alongside Richard on EastEnders playing Alfie Moon until 2005, said he was "absolutely devastated" by her death.
Richard had fought to overcome cancer twice previously, first in the mid-1990s and then in 2002. After lengthy treatment her cancer went into remission but last year an aggressive form of the disease had returned. It spread to her kidneys and bones and in October she revealed the cancer was terminal. She married her long-term partner Mr Burns, her fourth husband, at a star-studded ceremony in London's Mayfair in October.
As well as her former EastEnders colleagues, other big names from the entertainment world showered praise on the star's achievements. Sir Terry Wogan said Richard would be remembered as one of the greats of British television. "In the '60s and '70s, she was the queen of the sitcom and I'm sorry to hear she's gone," he said.
And scriptwriter Jeremy Lloyd, who worked with Richard on Are You Being Served?, said: "Wendy was not only a great friend but brought her extraordinary personality to Are You Being Served?, making her a star member of the cast. I shall miss her very much."
