Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actress Kay Purcell dies aged 58 after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer earlier this year
- The actress had recently been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer
- Kay last posted on Facebook on December 5 and said she had been feeling unwell for the past few weeks
- She had been given at the time a two-year life expectancy, but vowed to fight the disease
- Kay was best known for her roles in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road
- She also starred in Tracy Beaker Returns
Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star Kay Purcell has died aged 58, after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer earlier this year.
The actress' agency took to Twitter on Thursday to announce the sad news.
David Daly Associates said: 'It is with great regret that we announce the death of Kay Purcell.
Well loved: Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star Kay Purcell has died aged 57, after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer earlier this year
'Kay was a very valued client who had been represented by David Daly Associates for many years.
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'We send sympathy and love to her family and friends.'
Fans of Kay's soon to Twitter to pay tribute to the talented actress.
Soap star: The actress' breakthrough role was playing Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale. She starred in 187 episodes from 2001–2002 (pictured in 2002)
Announcement: The actress' agency took to Twitter on Thursday to announce the sad news
'Really sad news': Fans of Kay's soon to Twitter to pay tribute to the talented actress
One wrote: 'Really sad news, Kay was lovely x', while another recalled: 'Awww I will always remember bumping into her at the supermarket after she finished panto and being a young gobsmacked Waterloo road fan meeting Candice Smilie'.
'Oh this is very sad news. I worked with Kay on a few occasions and she was always excellent and great fun to have in a radio drama studio,' typed another.
'This is sad news. I remember her as Candice in Waterloo Road she was brilliant condolences to her family,' another fan typed.
Earlier this year, Kay was given the devastating prognosis that she had a life expectancy of just two years after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.
Emmerdale: Kay in character as Cynthia Daggert (centre) in Emmerdale (pictured with Cleveland Campbell as Danny Daggert and and Danielle Henry as Latisha Dagger in 2001)
Screen favourite: She was also known for her role as canteen assistant Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road from 2007 to 2009
Challenges: She was the mother of student Bolton Smilie, and never shies away from keeping her son in line
Her last post on her Facebook page, dated on December 5, read: 'My journey has seen me achieve some amazing things, my proudest achievement has to be my 3 amazing children. Ashley, Shemar and Indika and also my Beautiful grandson Levon.
'I have also been blessed with some of the best family and friends anyone could ask for, I would like to thank you for all the years of love and support you have given me.
'Over the last couple of months, I have been feeling unwell, I had put this down to my stomach ulcer.
'This was up until a couple of weeks ago I found myself in agony and could no longer deal with the pain.
'Consequently, I have been diagnosed with inoperable cancer to the liver.
'I'm gonna fight': Her last post on her Facebook page read: 'My journey has seen me achieve some amazing things, my proudest achievement has to be my 3 amazing children
'But with treatment, I have up to two years left to enjoy my time with my family and friends.
'So from Now on I’m going to live my life to the fullest, spending everyday living the best of my life I can. I don’t have a Bucket list but,
'I’M CERTAINLY NOT GIVING UP!!!'
Kay said she would turn 60 in 'exactly two years' and wanted 'to fight to see my 60th birthday'.
She requested all her fans to 'try and remain as happy and as positive for me as you can for me.'
The actress finished off the post: 'Big love to you all Kay.'
It comes three years after the actress battled breast cancer, with Kay bravely posting images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease.
Kay was regular face on TV screens and appeared as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns and in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground.
Purcell's first acting role was as a TV reporter in the TV series Cracker in 1995.
She then later starred in Coronation Street as Rhona Summers for 3 episodes in 1997.
Her breakthrough role was playing Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale. She starred in 187 episodes from 2001–2002.
She then went on to play Mrs. Rennison in So Awkward and Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road from 2007–2009.
TV favourite: Kay also starred in Bernard's Watch
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