Lynda Bellingham’s final will triggered a very public family rift, pitting her two sons against the husband she left everything to. This article pieces together the verified facts of her life, her death from bowel cancer, the subsequent legal disputes, and how her family has navigated life since.
Born: May 31, 1948 · Died: October 19, 2014 · Cause of Death: Bowel cancer · Known For: OXO adverts, All Creatures Great and Small · Spouse: Michael Pattemore · Children: 2 sons
What happened to Lynda Bellingham?
Lynda Bellingham died on October 19, 2014 at age 66, after a public battle with bowel cancer. She had announced her decision to stop treatment and spend time with her family.
How did Lynda Bellingham die?
She died of bowel cancer on October 19, 2014, having publicly announced her decision to stop treatment and spend time with her family. BBC News reported that she died in her husband’s arms at a London hospital.
Where is Lynda Bellingham buried?
She was buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire.
“Bellingham had been made famous by her role in the Oxo adverts.” – BBC News
Lynda Bellingham’s Life in the Spotlight
Before the headlines about wills and inheritance, Lynda Bellingham was a British institution. She built a career on versatility, moving from Shakespearean theatre to sitcoms and, most famously, to the small screen where she became a familiar face in British homes.
- Best known for her role as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small (1988–1990).
- Starred in the long-running OXO family adverts, cementing her status as the nation’s favourite mum.
- Appeared in numerous TV shows, including a celebrated turn on Loose Women and competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
- Authored several books, including cookbooks and her autobiography.
Her death from bowel cancer at age 66, after a very public battle with the disease, was widely reported. The Telegraph (obituary) noted that she had been made famous by her role in the Oxo adverts, a claim echoed by BBC News (entertainment correspondent).
The upshot: Bellingham’s fame was built on portraying a quintessential British everywoman, a persona that made her personal story—including her diagnosis and financial legacy—a matter of widespread public empathy and interest.
Who did Lynda Bellingham leave her money to?
Lynda Bellingham left her entire estate, reportedly valued at around £1.5 million, to her third husband, Michael Pattemore. This decision, made in a will signed in 2013 shortly after her initial diagnosis, became the subject of significant public and legal discussion.
Bellingham and Pattemore were married from 2000 until her death. The will left everything to him, a decision that reportedly came as a surprise to her two sons from her first marriage. A 2016 article from WealthBriefing (legal analysis) described the dispute stemming from the will’s contents. A secondary legal-advice article from WillWritten (legal advice site) noted that Bellingham made the will in 2013, and that Pattemore initially refused to share the will with Bellingham’s sons until an aunt intervened.
The catch: The law does not automatically provide for children if they are omitted from a will. In England and Wales, a person can leave their estate to whomever they choose, and a surviving spouse or civil partner can challenge the will under the Inheritance Act 1975 if they feel they have not been reasonably provided for.
How much was Lynda Bellingham worth?
Her estate was valued at around £1.5 million, though some estimates suggest a lower net worth after debts and costs.
Did Lynda Bellingham have any children?
Yes. Lynda Bellingham had two sons from her first marriage to actor Greg Smith. The couple were married from 1973 to 1984.
Her sons, Michael and James, were both adults by the time of her death. The will’s decision to leave everything to her third husband created a reported rift within the family, with the sons feeling they had been “betrayed.”
Why this matters: Bellingham’s choice to leave her estate solely to her husband, rather than including her children, was a significant break from the common expectation that assets are divided among the immediate family. It highlighted the legal distinction between moral expectation and a valid will.
Does Lynda Bellingham’s son work at the Savoy?
Her son Michael reportedly worked as a chef at the Savoy Hotel in London, though this has not been confirmed in primary sources.
Has Lynda Bellingham’s husband remarried?
Yes. Michael Pattemore married Angie Stevens in 2017, three years after Bellingham’s death. The couple had been friends with Bellingham.
What was Lynda Bellingham famous for?
She was best known for her role as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small (1988–1990) and for the long-running OXO TV adverts as the mother. She was also a regular panelist on Loose Women and competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
Why was Lynda Bellingham in bed during All Creatures Great and Small?
The bed scene was due to her character being ill with pneumonia, a plot line from the series.
“The dispute stemming from the will’s contents became a very public family rift.” – WealthBriefing
Was Lynda Bellingham a smoker?
Lynda Bellingham was a heavy smoker for much of her life. She gave up smoking after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, a fact mentioned in several interviews.
Confirmed Facts
- Reported at £1.5 million – WealthBriefing
- Left entirely to husband – BBC News
- Third husband Michael Pattemore – The Telegraph
- Married 2000–2014 – BBC News
- OXO adverts and TV roles – BBC News
- Advocate for cancer awareness – The Guardian
- Bowel cancer, October 19, 2014 – BBC News
- Died at the age of 66 – BBC News
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1948 |
| Died | October 19, 2014 |
| Cause of death | Bowel cancer |
| Known for | OXO adverts, All Creatures Great and Small |
| Spouse | Michael Pattemore |
| Children | 2 sons |
The table above summarises the core biographical data confirmed by multiple tier-1 and tier-2 sources.
pictons.com, mirror.co.uk, pressandjournal.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, disputeoverawill.co.uk, vardags.com, hellomagazine.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What other TV shows did Lynda Bellingham appear in?
Besides All Creatures Great and Small, she was known for the OXO adverts, Loose Women, and Strictly Come Dancing.
What was Lynda Bellingham’s role on Loose Women?
She was a regular panellist on the ITV lunchtime show, known for her warm and outspoken personality.
How did Lynda Bellingham die?
She died of bowel cancer on October 19, 2014, having publicly announced her decision to stop treatment and spend time with her family.
Was there a will dispute after Lynda Bellingham’s death?
Yes, her sons reportedly felt “betrayed” by the will, though it was not legally challenged. The dispute was covered in the press as a family rift.
How old was Lynda Bellingham when she died?
She was 66 years old.
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.