The finest tribute we can pay actress Linda Bellingham is to remember the huge volume of excellent work she managed to cram into her busy career. Although possibly still best known for her Oxo adverts and Loose Women, her long list of successes include Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great & Small, The Inquisitor in Dr Who and Vena in Blakes 7.
People whose job it is to interview celebrities will have hundreds of stories to tell of “awkward” stars and difficult interviews – but you’ll never hear one about Linda Bellingham. When approached for an interview, Linda was always polite, amiable and happy to help.
She was awarded an OBE in the 2014 Queen’s New Year Honours for services to charity.
Her TV husband in those Oxo advertisements, Michael Redfern said of Linda “I think she was just normal, she was like the lady next door, the wife, your mother. She had everything, just a very open person”
Actor Simon Pegg tweeted: “Lynda Bellingham, a gorgeous, brassy, funny, generous, talented human being. My first TV mother figure and a treasured friend.”
Back in January 2012, Linda spoke to Judi Herman, with her usual enthusiasm and enjoyment of all she did, about Aylesbury her home town and her excitement about its brand new theatre – and appearing there in Calendar Girls with her son playing the photographer….
Last word goes to actress Denise Welch, Linda’s friend and co presenter on Loose Women, who told BBC Ulster Radio: “She turned everything into a positive. She’s left a wonderful legacy…..one of the best character actresses that this country has known.”
Linda Bellingham 1948 – 2014 No more pain now, Rest In Peace.
