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Actress Lynda Bellingham, best known to genre fans for her role as the Inquisitor in the season-long Doctor Who story The Trial of a Time Lord, has lost her battle with cancer, and died aged 66.

Bellingham was born in Montreal, Canada, but adopted by a family in England where she grew up. Her screen career began in the 1970s, appearing on All Creatures Great and Small opposite Peter Davison, with whom she also appeared in At Home with the Braithwates twenty years later.

She reprised the role of Inquisitor Darkel for Big Finish’s Gallifrey series, as well as the recent story The Trial of the Valeyard; her other genre work includes an episode of Blake’s 7.

She was also well known for the adverts for Oxo, and as a presenter on the chat show Loose Women. In recent weeks, she has spoken publicly about her decision not to continue with her chemotherapy treatment, hoping for one last Christmas with her family.