EastEnders icon’s tragic d.e.a.t.h left fortune and touching promise to co-star
Pauline Fowler actress Wendy Richard d.i.e.d aged 65 after a cancer battle, leaving her fortune to husband John Burns but including a touching gesture to beloved co-star Natalie Cassidy
Wendy Richard in Eastenders back in 1985(Image: BBC)
A cherished EastEnders actress passed away following an extended battle with cancer, but no one could have predicted the touching vow she made to a fellow performer. Star Wendy Richard d.i.e.d 17 years ago today, on 26 February 2009, at just 65 years of age.
Wendy passed away at the Harley Street Clinic in London with her spouse John Burns by her side. Her representative Kevin Francis offered a tribute at the time, stating: “She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end.”
She remains warmly remembered for her legendary performance as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, a character she portrayed for 21 years. Nevertheless, before her soap fame, she had already won over countless admirers as Miss Brahms in the comedy series Are You Being Served? The performer had previously fought cancer twice, first in the mid-1990s and once more in 2002.
Wendy played Pauline on the soap(Image: PA)
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After comprehensive treatment, her cancer went into remission, but in 2008 she learned the disease had returned in an especially aggressive manner. It had metastasised to her kidneys and bones, and in October that year, she revealed the cancer was terminal, reports the Mirror.
She subsequently married her long-standing partner, her fourth husband, at a celebrity-filled ceremony in London’s Mayfair. Following Wendy’s passing, celebrities offered their tributes to her.
Former EastEnders co-star Shane Richie, who played Alfie Moon opposite Wendy, voiced his devastation at her d.e.a.t.h at the time, stating he was “absolutely devastated”. And TV host Dale Winton, a longtime friend of Wendy who has since tragically passed away, remarked: “I knew her as a family friend first since I was a little boy and worked with her many times.
“I’m very saddened to hear the news, she was a real fighter and actually a very kind and funny lady in her own right. My thoughts are with her family, she will be missed.”
Wendy and Natalie were close off screen despite fighting on it (Image: PA)
Dear friend and broadcaster Esther Rantzen voiced profound grief at the loss of the cherished star, commenting: “She was courageous, honest, a brilliant talent and she will be greatly missed. She was a woman of huge integrity, she was a terrific, terrific lady.”
Upon Wendy’s d.e.a.t.h, it emerged that she wished for her ashes to be scattered alongside her late terrier Shirley’s and those of her husband John Burns when he passes away. It was also reported that she was bequeathing him her £2million fortune, though she included a particularly touching clause in her will, with a pledge to a treasured co-star.
Wendy was allegedly leaving everything to Natalie Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia – her daughter-in-law on the programme – should John d.i.e within 28 days of her passing. Natalie was understood to consider Wendy as “a second mum”.
Ultimately, Natalie reportedly inherited cookbooks and jewellery from Wendy’s will. Born as Wendy Emerton in Middlesbrough in 1943, Richard was brought up in London where her parents ran a pub.
She was educated at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, leaving at 15 to work in the fashion department of Fortnum and Mason.
She later pursued drama studies at the Italia Conti Stage Academy in London, choosing to take on the surname Richard because “it was short and neat”. In 1962, she appeared on the novelty record Come Outside with British artist Mike Sarne, which rocketed to number one in the charts.
Wendy landed roles in the 1960s BBC soap The Newcomers, Dad’s Army, Up Pompeii! and The Likely Lads. She also featured in Carry On films alongside future EastEnders co-star Barbara Windsor.
However, she gained widespread recognition playing a cheeky Cockney shop assistant in Are You Being Served? for a span of 12 years.
She became part of EastEnders from its very first episode in 1985 and stayed with the soap until Christmas 2006, when her character met her end. She was awarded an MBE for services to television in 2000.
