Who was Kay Mellor and what was her cause of death?
KAY MELLOR was a well-known British actress and screenwriter.
Kay, who was best known for writing TV shows including Fat Friends, The Syndicate and Band Of Gold, was 71 when she sadly passed away in 2022.
Who was Kay Mellor?
Kay was born in Leeds on May 11, 1951, and later studied at Bretton Hall College, which is now part of the University of Leeds.
Kay’s legacy led to her being appointed an OBE in 2009 and becoming a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2016.
She was also awarded the Bafta Dennis Potter award in 1997 for Outstanding Writing for Television.
Kay founded Rollem Productions - a company that champions creative talent and "makes programmes that portray real people and real lives" - in 2000.
What was Kay Mellor's cause of death?
Kay's death was announced by Rollem Productions on May 17, 2022.
She had passed away two days earlier.
Her exact cause of death is unknown but it's believed she may have succumbed to complications from an existing medical condition.
Kay's family released a statement after her death saying that she had been unwell for quite some time but that her passing was peaceful.
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A spokesperson from Rollem Productions said: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday, May 15.
"We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends at this time."
On June 14, 2022, Kay's family held a private funeral for her.
The service was only for close relatives and friends, and was not open to the public.
Which TV shows did Kay Mellor write for?
Kay started writing for Granada TV in the 1980s on Coronation Street, and she also wrote seven episodes for Channel 4’s Brookside in 1989.
One of Kay’s hit shows was ITV’s Girlfriends, starring Zoe Wanamaker, which she wrote and directed.
She also wrote Band Of Gold (1995), Playing The Field (1998) for BBC One, Fat Friends (2000) and Between The Sheets (2003).
In 2012 she wrote another BBC drama, The Syndicate, which returned for a second series in 2013, a third series in 2015, and another in 2021.
Who is Kay Mellor's husband?
Kay lived in Leeds and was married to Anthony Mellor.
The pair tied the knot in 1968 when she was 17.
Did Kay Mellor have any children?
Kay and Anthony had two daughters together - television producer Yvonne Francas, and actress Gaynor Faye.
Both daughters followed in their mother's creative footsteps and are notable actresses and producers.
Kay was only 16 when she had her first child, Yvonne, marrying Anthony when she was 17.
Yvonne is a freelance producer and has worked on top drama series including Scott & Bailey, Death In Paradise, and Our Girl.
Their second daughter Gaynor Faye, was born on August 26, 1971.
She is an actress and soap star.
Gaynor is best known for playing Judy Mallett in Corrie from 1995 to 1999 and appeared on Dancing On Ice in 2006. She won.
She also played Megan Macey in Emmerdale and featured in many of her mum's shows including The Syndicate, Fat Friends, Playing The Field, Between The Sheets, and Fanny And Elvis.