Lynda Bellingham tributes: Simon Pegg leads respects to his first 'TV mother figure'

The actress and presenter died yesterday, aged 66

Simon Pegg was among one of the first high-profile names to have paid tribute to Lynda Bellingham, who died yesterday in her husband’s arms after losing her battle to colon cancer.

“Lynda Bellingham, a gorgeous, brassy, funny, generous, talented human being,” tweeted Pegg. “My first TV mother figure and and a treasured friend.”

The actress and television presenter has been fighting the disease since July 2013, and announced last month that she planned to end her chemotherapy.

She had hoped to live until January, so she could spend one final Christmas with her family. She is survived by husband Michael Pattemore and two sons, Robbie and Michael.

Ballroom dancer James Jordan – who Bellingham appeared with on 2009 Strictly Come Dancing – called the news “devastating”.

Kirstie Allsopp branded her an “inspiration” and told those fighting cancer and hoping to make it until after Christmas not “to give up hope”.

Her fellow Loose Women panelists Lisa Maxwell, Denise Welch and Linda Robson also paid their respects on Twitter.

She made her final appearance on the show last week.

The actress is best known for her role as a mother in the Oxo TV adverts.