Lynda Bellingham Reveals Cancer Diagnosis Jul 16th 2013, 07:13
The actress and presenter Lynda Bellingham has been diagnosed with cancer.
The 65-year-old, well-known for her roles on Loose Women and the Oxo television adverts, has postponed a theatre tour, but vowed "nothing's going to stop me coming back next year".
Bellingham, who has two children, had been due to start a tour of Kay Mellor's A Passionate Woman in Sheffield in September.
However, in a statement she said: "I'm devastated not to be able to honour my commitments to the play this year.
Bellingham with her husband Michael Pattemore on the red carpet in April "But having toured many times before, I'm aware of the sheer stamina needed and I need to prioritise my recovery.
"That said, nothing's going to stop me coming back next year, and I can’t wait to be a 'passionate woman'."
No further details of her illness have been given.
Bellingham starred in the long-running series of Oxo adverts screened in the 1980s as the mother in a squabbling family.
Her acting roles have included parts in All Creatures Great And Small and the sitcom Second Thoughts, which began on BBC Radio 4 in 1988 before transferring to ITV.
She also presents ITV series Country House Sunday and was a regular panellist on talk show Loose Women.
Bellingham, who appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing four years ago, has been a high-profile supporter of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support since her sister Barbara died from lung cancer.
Sheffield Theatres artistic director Daniel Evans said: "A Passionate Woman is an extraordinary play about an extraordinary woman, and that woman is Lynda Bellingham.
"She is the heart of this production, and it's inconceivable that we would do it without her."
- Related Stories
- 'Bootiful' Is Back And Oxo Family Returns
Scott Foresman Science
unsubscribe from this feed
YOUR COMMENT
