Lynda Bellingham

Lynda Bellingham is one of Britain's best-loved actresses. Currently a regular on ITV1's Loose Women and a contestant in 2009's Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1), her rich career on stage and screen spans over 40 years and includes roles as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small; Faith in Faith in the Future and Second Thoughts; Chris in Calendar Girls in the West End and on tour; and leading roles in At Home with the Braithwaites, The Bill, Robin Hood, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dr Who, The Sweeney, General Hospital and Confessions of a Driving Instructor. She is, however, perhaps best-known for her role, over many years, as the 'Oxo Mum'.

Her memoir Lost and Found (2009) tells, with remarkable candour, the story of her journey to discover who she truly is. Finding love and happiness in later life, she is now married to Michael Pattemore, the man known to the millions of Loose Women viewers as 'Mr Spain'.