TV writer Kay Mellor who penned Band Of Gold and Fat Friends has died aged 71
TV writer Kay Mellor dies suddenly aged 71: Tributes paid to ‘true luminary’ who penned Band of Gold and Fat Friends and launched careers of Jude Law, James Corden and Ruth Jones
Kay Mellor wrote many of the most loved TV dramas of the past three decades for the BBC and ITVBand of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate launched the careers of many TV stars Survived by her husband Anthony and two daughters, actress Gaynor Faye and TV producer Yvonne Francas
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Kay Mellor, one of Britain’s finest TV writers and a trailblazer for British working class drama over the past three decades, has died suddenly aged 71, it was revealed today.
Yorkshire-born Mellor, who wrote hit series after hit series including Band of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate, passed away on Sunday.
She earned an OBE in 2009 and was awarded the Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing in 2014 and her work helped transformed the careers of many young British stars including James Corden, Jude Law, Samantha Morton and Ruth Jones, who said today: ‘British television has lost one of its greats’.
Her own daughter Gaynor Faye, a celebrated actress in her own right and star of Coronation Street and Emmerdale, starred in her mother’s drama The Syndicate and recently helped bring Band of Gold to the stage.
Mellor is survived by her husband Anthony, who she married in 1968. They have always lived in Leeds. They have two daughters, actress Gaynor and television producer Yvonne Francas.
Ms Mellor’s gritty and often hilariously funny northern dramas mirrored her own extraordinary life, which began in poverty in Leeds. She had her daughter Yvonne aged 16 and then Gaynor at 19. It was only in her late 20s that she went to night school, doing an A-Level in theatre studies that would inspire her to write for TV.
A spokesman for her TV production company, 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.’
Kay Mellor, who wrote hit series including ITV ‘s Girlfriends, Band of Gold and The Syndicate, has died aged 71. She was awarded an OBE in 2009 (right)
Gaynor Faye and her mother Kay Mellor at the premiere of the film , ‘Ravenous’, at The Odeon West End cinema
Gaynor Faye with her mother Kay and father Anthony, together on holiday in 2020
Tributes have poured in from the world of showbiz, including from Ruth Jones, who said ‘British television has lost one of its greats’.
The Welsh actress and comedian, who starred as Kelly Chadwick alongside James Corden in her series Fat Friends between 2000 and 2005, said: ‘I am completely shocked to hear the news of Kay’s untimely death.
‘Her contribution to British television was outstanding and I feel privileged to have worked with her. Such a down-to-earth, funny, big-hearted person whose brilliance lay in seeing the extraordinary in the day to day.
‘She was a great mentor to me when I first started writing – and always hugely encouraging of new writers – a real testament to the idea of paying it forward. Her series Fat Friends was a massive turning point in my career and I will be eternally grateful to her for what she did for me. British television has lost one of its greats. Thank you Kay for all that you gave us. I cannot believe you’ve gone.’
Sir Lenny Henry, who starred in Kay Mellor’s hit TV series The Syndicate, based on a group of lotto winners, tweeted: ‘I was saddened to hear that Kay Mellor has died.
‘I was lucky to work with her on the Syndicate and found her to be incredibly creative , funny and instinctive.
‘She knew what she wanted and knew how to get the best from us as actors. She will be missed. Condolences to her family.’
Corrie star Antony Cotton tweeted : ‘I’m totally shocked to hear that Kay Mellor has died. I can’t imagine how her family feel. Devastating. She was a real trailblazer for women in this industry. Rest In Power, Kay x’.
Her big breakthrough came in 1995 when ITV made Band of Gold, a drama about a group of prostitutes with Barbara Dickson, Geraldine James and Cathy Tyson. Playing The Field, Fat Friends, The Chase, In The Club and Girlfriends followed in a prolific 27 year TV career. The Syndicate had a long run on the BBC, with the most recent series going out last year.
Band of Gold, which ran from 1995 to 1997 was a ground-breaking drama and a huge hit, with critics hailing it as one of the first major drama written by a woman, for women.
Millions watched as Ms Mellor brought to life the often grim, and sometimes darkly funny life of a group of sex workers in Bradford.
One of its breakthrough stars was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who would soon star alongside Tom Cruise in Minority Report and she also played Alpha in The Walking Dead.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2017, she hinted that Fat Friends was perhaps her favourite show. She chose The Beautiful South’s Perfect 10, the Fat Friends theme tune, as one of her sound tracks, admittingL ‘Every time I heard that I used to get excited and get butterflies’.
She added: ‘It was such a lovely time of my life, it was a drama that was really important to me because I thought I had something to say about weight and body image.’
She began her career writing plays, worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children’s drama Children’s Ward.
She also wrote BBC One’s women’s football series Playing The Field and in 2010 received an OBE.
The BBC’s chief content officer, Charlotte Moore, paid tribute to Kay Mellor following her death.
In a statement, Moore said: ‘I’m shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Kay Mellor has suddenly passed away.
‘Kay was an outstanding writer and the creative force behind many of the nation’s best-loved television dramas.
‘She wrote with such heart, humanity, humour and passion with strong female characters often taking centre stage.
‘She will be missed and our thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time.’
West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin paid tribute to Leeds-born screenwriter Kay Mellor on Twitter.
She said: ‘Just dreadful news & difficult to take in. Sending all our love from everyone in £westyorkshire to Kay’s family, friends & colleagues.
‘Our voice of the North, she put working class characters at the centre of her brilliant compassionate, moving & funny stories. Such a loss.’
Shameless and Emmerdale actress Hayley Tamaddon tweeted: ‘Such sad sad news about the wonderful kay mellor.. She was always so lovely and kind to me.. a truly brilliant lady.
‘My thoughts and love and strength to @MsGfaye and all her family at this difficult time.’
