Paul O'Grady has revealed that he will not be attending the late Lynda Bellingham's upcoming funeral. Lynda passed away at the age of 66 in mid-October, after losing her battle against colorectal cancer, and the former Loose Women panellist will be laid to rest in Somerset on Monday. Calling his showbiz friend a "lovely lady", Paul said that he couldn't make the service as he will be filming a Christmas special for his TV show For the Love of Dogs.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPaul O'Grady will be filming For The Love of Dogs next week
"I'm gutted I can't go," Paul told The Mirror. "Lynda was a lovely lady. I was very fond of her and really shocked when I heard the news. It's unbelievable and scary, but that's it, I've lost another friend." "I last saw her in the studios," he said. "We'd always pass in the corridors when she was doing Loose Women. She was looking well, which is why it was such a shock." Paul did, however, add that he hoped to attend the late actress' memorial service in London, which has reportedly been planned for a later date.
© Photo: Getty ImagesLynda Bellingham passed away in the arms of her husband Michael
Next week Lynda's friends and family, including her husband Michael and her two sons, will rally together to remember Lynda and celebrate her life in "one last show".The funeral will be a Royal Variety Show-style event, her close friend Christopher Biggins confirmed, which will see a roll call of famous faces in attendance including the actor himself, Maureen Lipman, Jane McDonald, Denise Welch and Nickolas Grace. "It's going to be the longest funeral ever," Christopher, who was close friends with Lynda for 40 years, previously told The Mirror. He added that Michael had asked various people from his late wife's career to play a part in the funeral.
© Photo: Getty ImagesLynda Bellingham's funeral will be 'one last show before the curtain goes down'
"It'll be loud, bright and joyous," added Christopher. "That's the kind of girl she was. It's one last show before the curtain goes down." The Oxo Family adverts star passed away in a London hospital, in the arms of her husband.
Her agent Sue Latimer confirmed the sad news in a statement, writing: "Her family would like to thank the nurses and staff for their tremendous care and support. Actor, writer and presenter – to the end Lynda was a consummate professional."
