Nanny Pat: TOWIE star dies aged 80 following short illness

Nanny Pat had featured in the series since 2010

Nanny Pat is best known in TOWIE as Mark and Jess Wright's grandmother and Carol Wright's mother (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

Pat Brooker, one of the most popular individuals featured in the reality TV series The Only Way is Essex, has died aged 80.

The family of Brooker, which include her grandchildren Mark and Jess Wright and Carol Wright, her daughter, released a statement to the Daily Mail confirming her death following a “short illness”.

“Sadly our amazing, courageous and beautiful Nanny Pat passed away this morning after a short illness.

"We are overwhelmed by sadness and the whole family ask for privacy at this horrible time.”

The popular grandmother, who was best known as 'Nanny Pat' has been involved with TOWIE since the series premiered on ITV in 2010.

Other TOWIE cast members including Ricky Rayment, the former boyfriend of Jess, Lauren Pope and Maria Fowler paid tribute to Brooker shortly after news of her death broke.

Brooker is survived by her five children, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.