Gloria's Greats: Wendy Richard

Wed 10th Dec - 7:00AM

Gloria Hunniford speaks to the actress who hung up Pauline Fowler's pinny for the final time on Christmas Day. What will she reveal about her Albert Square exit?

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Wendy Richard
born: 20-07-1943
birth place: Middlesbrough, England

Over the years, Richard has also done a fair deal of radio work. Whilst she is best known for her harsh, Cockney accented characters, she actually has a most pleasantly sultry speaking voice. She has worked or appeared as a guest on a number of British radio programmes, including ‘Some of These Days’, ‘Kaleidoscope’, ‘Steve Wright in the Afternoon’, ‘Dad’s Army’, ‘Just a Minute’, ‘Listening Corner’, ‘Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful’ and more recently, ‘Michael Parkinson’ on the Sunday Show of 9 October 2005.

Richard is perhaps best known for two of her long-standing television roles. She played Miss Shirley Brahms, the rather slow sales representative with a strong Cockney accent in the 1970s BBC sitcom ‘Are You Being Served?’, for 13 years. As well as acting in the stage adaptation of the same name and in the cinematic version ‘Are You Being Served?: The Movie’ (1977), she also appeared in the short-lived sequel, ‘Grace and Favour’, in 1992 and 1993. Her most well known role however, was as Pauline Fowler, matriarch and heroine, who wore dowdy clothes and had a broad Cockney accent, in BBC’s soap opera ‘EastEnders’ (1985). For many viewers, Richard was central to the programme, holding a special place in their hearts. The programme’s executive producer Kate Harwood declared, “Pauline’s indomitable nature typified the grit and fight that embodies the EastEnders spirit, as she took on the world and battled her many troubles.”

Richard played this role with great pride and fondness for her character for nearly 22 years, from the first episode in February 1985. The other cast member who has been with the soap since its inception is Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale. On 10 July 2006 the BBC announced Richard’s imminent departure from the sitcom. She has claimed that she loved every minute of her time on ‘EastEnders’ and it is expected that she will be honoured for her years with the show in a special Christmas 2006 storyline, possibly giving her a dramatic exit from the soap.

In the early 1990s, Richard was diagnosed with breast cancer but was back at work within months. After a long battle with her illness and years of treatment, she finally went into remission in 1995 and began working extensively for various cancer charities. Sadly, seven years later, the cancer returned and Richard underwent surgery to remove a lump from her neck in 2002, followed by daily treatment, which she juggled with her filming schedule. It is thought that her current ailing health has been influential in her decision to leave television work.

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