Trivia

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2013. The doctors gave her a good prognosis. However, in September 2014 she revealed the cancer had spread to her liver and lungs and she had planned to stop chemotherapy in November.

Known also for playing the mother of the Oxo family in a series of commercials.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2014 Queen's New Year Honours List for voluntary service to Charitable Giving in the UK.

Was born to an unwed teenager, Marjorie Hughes, in Canada and subsequently adopted by an English couple, the Bellinghams, at 4 months old.

From 2007 to 2011, she was a regular panellist on the daytime chat show Loose Women (1999). She later regretted this as she felt it made people think of her as a TV personality instead of an actress.

Her adoptive parents, Donald and Ruth Bellingham, died in January 2005 and February 2005 respectively. Her birth mother, Marjorie Hughes Bond, died in February 2012.

In the months leading up to her death she was offered parts in The Syndicate (2012) and EastEnders (1985) but was far too ill to do them.

She took part in the BBC reality dancing show Strictly Come Dancing (2004) in 2009 but did not enjoy the experience.

Was considered for Chancellor Thalia in Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity.

Calendar Girls on Stage in London (October 2010)

She was the daughter of an Aylesbury farmer.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 39, a son Robert Ciro Peluso on 6 April 1988. Child's father is her now 2nd ex-husband, Nunzio Peluso.

Starring alongside Alison Steadman in Losing Louis, at Trafalgar Studios, London. (May 2005)

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 34, a son Michael Peluso on 13 April 1983. Child's father is her now 2nd ex-husband, Nunzio Peluso.

Delivered both her sons via Caesarean section due to them being in the breech position.

Toured in the play Castles in the Air with William Franklyn.

In the West End play Strippers.

Wanted to follow her idol Julie Andrews and be a singer but stuck to acting.

Born in Montreal her family came to the UK when she was 6.

She was known for being the mother in the Oxo television commercials.