Wendy Richard 'Dying Of Cancer'

Wendy Richard has revealed that she is dying of cancer.

The 65-year-old actress, who played Pauline Fowler on Eastenders, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in January this year. She has previously fought breast cancer twice.

"I went for my usual annual check-up and they found that some cancer cells had returned in my left armpit," Wendy explained. She told the Sunday Express newspaper that she has already made out her will and discussed plans for her funeral.

"The drugs I was given to help had an adverse effect. If anything, they did more damage than good so my health has really deteriorated," she continued. "Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones.

"Twice I've had breast cancer but this is different. It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs."

Richard plans to marry her partner John Burns before starting a course of chemotherapy later this month.

Before joining the cast of EastEnders in 1985, Richard was best known for her role as shopgirl Shirley Brahms in the 1970s comedy Are You Being Served?