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Wendy Richard (born Wendy Emerton; 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009) was an English actress best known for two long-running BBC television roles: Miss Shirley Brahms in the sitcom Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) and Pauline Fowler in the soap opera EastEnders (1985–2006). Trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, she began appearing on television in the early 1960s and had steady work in both film and TV across five decades. Her screen credits include two Carry On films, several British feature films and many notable television series and specials. Richard was appointed MBE in 2000 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards in 2007. She publicly battled breast cancer after a 1996 diagnosis and documented the final months of her life in a BBC programme broadcast after her death in 2009.

... Wendy Richard (née Emerton) was born on 20 July 1943 in Middlesbrough and trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. After early television appearances in the 1960s she became a familiar face on British screens, establishing herself as a comic and character actress. Richard gained national recognition as Miss Shirley Brahms in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, appearing throughout the series and later in the spin-off Grace & Favour. In 1985 she joined the original cast of the BBC soap EastEnders as Pauline Fowler, a role she played until 2006 and for which she became widely identified. Her film work included small roles in British features and two entries in the Carry On series. Richard was appointed an MBE in 2000 and honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards in 2007. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996; the disease recurred in later years and she made a BBC documentary about her final months. Richard married four times and died on 26 February 2009. Then & Now The 1980s Throughout the early 1980s Wendy Richard was best known as Miss Shirley Brahms in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, a role she played until the series ended in 1985 and that cemented her reputation as a sharp comic character actress. In 1985 she made a high-profile transition to the new soap EastEnders as original cast member Pauline Fowler, a part that quickly made her a household name and came to define the next two decades of her career. Alongside television she continued to appear in British films and specials, demonstrating the versatility that had sustained her steady work since the 1960s. Now (2026) Wendy Richard died in 2009 after a public battle with breast cancer, having documented the final months of her life in a BBC programme broadcast after her death. By 2026 her legacy remains strong: she is remembered for two iconic long-running roles, was appointed MBE in 2000 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, and continues to be celebrated in reruns, retrospectives and discussions of British television history. Her comic timing and portrayal of everyday characters secure her place as one of the most recognisable figures of late 20th‑century British TV. Career timeline 1943 Born Wendy Emerton on 20 July in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire. Late 1950s–early 1960s Trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and began working in modelling and variety television. 1967–1969 Played Joyce Harker, a regular role, in the BBC serial The Newcomers. 1970–1973 Appeared in television series including Dad's Army as Edith Parish and in several British feature films. 1972–1985 Became widely known as Miss Shirley Brahms in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?. 1985 Originated the role of Pauline Fowler in the first episode of the BBC soap EastEnders. 1992–1993 Reprised Miss Brahms in the Are You Being Served? sequel series Grace & Favour. 1996 Diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment; later periods of remission followed. 2000 Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to drama. 2006–2007 Left EastEnders in 2006; received the British Soap Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Public reference sources Public biography and credit reference.Wendy Richard – Wikipedia reference search Public biography and credit reference.Wendy Richard – IMDb name search Biographical and credit details were checked against Wendy Richard – Wikipedia reference search, Wendy Richard – IMDb name search.