Lynda Bellingham’s former ‘Loose Women’ co-host Jane McDonald has paid tribute to her late friend and admits she can’t believe "she’s gone".
The singer starred on the panel of the chat show with Lynda – who lost her battle with colon cancer on Sunday (19.10.14) at the age of 66 – and became very close friends with her.
Jane is in total shock that Lynda passed away before fulfilling her dying wish of spending one last Christmas with her family, husband Michael, 59, and her sons, Michael, 31, and Robbie, 26, because she had seemed in such "good spirits" since choosing to stop her treatment.
Phoning in to the ITV show today (20.10.14), Jane said: "I can’t believe that she’s gone because she was in such great spirits. She thought so much of all her friends and all her family and had so much and that is never going to leave us. The love of Lynda Bellingham will be with each and every one of us and still as we picture her, she’ll be there with us."
Lynda’s dear friend Christopher Biggins also phoned in to speak about her, and his voice broke with emotion as he recalled her comic yet loving nature.
The 65-year-old actor said: "It’s unbelievable really because she was such a good friend, as you all know she was marvellous. She was also a brilliant actress. I will remember the laughter, the joy of being with her and laughing, but also the caring person she was.
"If you were in trouble, you had a problem, you’d ring her and she’d be the first to help. She will be greatly lost."
The panellists on the chat show were clearly moved by the comments with 49-year-old co-host Coleen Nolan struggling to hold back her tears.
Other stars have added to the tributes online, with Peter Andre calling her "a courageous woman" on Twitter.
Diana Vickers tweeted: "Thoughts are with her family … We have to bloody beat cancer!"
The last interview which Lynda conducted was with ‘Loose Women’ stars Janet Street-Porter and Coleen Nolan, and it will air on the show on Wednesday (22.10.14).
Jane McDonald remembers the loving nature of Lynda Bellingham
