Sally Farmiloe dead: Howards' Way actress, and former mistress of Jeffrey Archer, dies aged 60

The actress, born in South Africa, also starred in Steptoe and Son and Bergerac

Sally Farmiloe has died of cancer at the age of 60.

The South African-born actress was best known for her role as Dawn the barmaid in the BBC series Howards’ Way.

In 1999, she became the subject of tabloid fascination when details of her affair with former politician and author Jeffrey Archer became public knowledge.

"After Sally's brave struggle against this terrible disease, I was saddened to hear the news of her death," Archer said in a statement.

On the small screen, Familoe starred in Steptoe and Son and Bergerac. On the stage, she appeared in Absent Friends and When the Lilac Blooms.

She was also a strident philanthropist, raising money for cancer charities.

Her book, My Left Boob, candidly detailed her struggle with the disease that eventually killed her.