Lynda Bellingham: Death, Will Controversy, and Life Story

Few British actresses of her era managed to charm audiences both on screen and in the kitchen. Lynda Bellingham did both, as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small and as the smiling face of the Oxo family, but after her death from colorectal cancer in 2014, a carefully written will turned private grief into a public family feud.

Born: 31 May 1948 ·
Died: 19 October 2014 (aged 66) ·
Cause of Death: Colorectal cancer ·
Famous For: Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small, Loose Women panellist ·
Spouse: Greg Smith (m. 1999–2014) ·
Children: 2 sons

Nine facts about Lynda Bellingham’s life and the legal battle that followed, one pattern: the same will that secured her husband’s future also pushed her sons into the headlines.

What happened to Lynda Bellingham?

In 2013, Lynda Bellingham was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She underwent surgery, but the cancer had already spread. She died on 19 October 2014 at age 66 (WealthBriefing). During her final year, she campaigned publicly for cancer awareness, sharing her experience in interviews and urging others to get screened.

Lynda Bellingham’s battle with colorectal cancer

• Diagnosed in 2013 (WealthBriefing)
• Underwent surgery but cancer spread
• Raised awareness for cancer screening

Announcement of her diagnosis and public campaign

She went public with her diagnosis in 2013 and used her platform on Loose Women and in interviews to discuss the importance of early detection. Her openness drew widespread admiration.

Tributes from colleagues and fans

Following her death, tributes poured in from co‑stars and fans. The BBC described her as “an inspiration” in its obituary.

The implication: her final months were spent not only fighting cancer but also trying to ensure others wouldn’t face it too late.

Who inherited Lynda Bellingham’s money?

Bellingham’s will, drawn up in 1999, left her entire estate to her third husband, Greg Smith. The will reportedly left only small gifts of £750 each to her two sons (WealthBriefing). The sons, Michael and Matthew, reportedly felt disappointed and betrayed (Vardags).

The terms of Lynda Bellingham’s will

• Will dated 1999 left entire estate to Greg Smith (WealthBriefing)
• Made less than a year before her death while she was already ill (Gorvins Solicitors)

Her husband Greg Smith as sole beneficiary

Smith, a former butler who married Bellingham in 1999, was named executor and sole beneficiary. He later said the estate came with substantial debts – including a £25,000 overdraft and credit‑card debts (Daily Mirror).

Reaction of her sons and the reported betrayal

In spring 2016, the sons sought legal redress. They reportedly placed a caveat on the will to delay probate (Daily Mirror). The legal basis for their challenge was the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (Vardags). The sons alleged that Smith spent estate money on trips, a hair transplant, and a Corvette – though the same source notes there was no evidence he used estate funds rather than his own money for those purchases (Vardags).

The pattern: a will designed to protect a spouse became the flashpoint for a public rift that may never fully heal.

What was Lynda Bellingham famous for?

Bellingham was one of Britain’s most recognisable television faces. She played Helen Herriot in the BBC adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small throughout the 1980s (WealthBriefing). She was also a regular panellist on Loose Women from 1999 to 2011 and starred in the long‑running Oxo advertising campaign.

Role as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small

• Played Helen Herriot in BBC’s All Creatures Great and Small (1980s)
• Co‑starred with Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy

Appearances in Doctor Who, Second Thoughts, Faith in the Future

Earlier in her career, she played the Inquisitor in Doctor Who (1975). She later starred in the sitcoms Second Thoughts and Faith in the Future.

Loose Women panellist and Oxo commercial fame

Bellingham became a household name through the Oxo family adverts, which aired for over a decade. She joined Loose Women in 1999 and remained a panellist until 2011 (WealthBriefing). She was awarded an OBE in 2001 for services to entertainment and charity.

Who was Lynda Bellingham married to?

Bellingham married Greg Smith in 1999. Smith, a former butler, became her carer during her final illness. The marriage was her third; she had previously been married to John Bellingham (1972–1976) and an unnamed second husband (WealthBriefing). She had two sons, Michael and Matthew, from her first marriage.

Marriage to Greg Smith: the butler who became her husband

• Married Greg Smith in 1999 (WealthBriefing)
• Smith was her carer during final illness

Previous marriages and relationships

Her first marriage to actor John Bellingham ended in divorce in 1976. A second marriage, to a man whose identity she never publicly revealed, also ended in divorce.

Her two sons from earlier relationship

Michael and Matthew were born during her first marriage. After her death, they became central figures in the inheritance dispute, reportedly feeling that their mother’s wishes had been subverted (Vardags).

Was Lynda Bellingham a smoker?

Lynda Bellingham was a heavy smoker for many years, a habit she later linked to her cancer diagnosis.

Her heavy smoking habit

• Smoked heavily for decades
• Acknowledged the habit publicly after her diagnosis

Link between smoking and her cancer diagnosis

In interviews following her diagnosis, Bellingham said she believed smoking contributed to her colorectal cancer. She stated, “I was a heavy smoker and I think it contributed” (Daily Mirror).

Later public statements about smoking

She urged others to quit smoking and spoke openly about the dangers, using her platform to advocate for cancer prevention.

The implication: her frankness about smoking added a personal dimension to her public health campaign.

Timeline: Lynda Bellingham’s life and the will dispute

• 1999 – Married Greg Smith; began regular role on Loose Women (WealthBriefing)
• 2013 – Diagnosed with colorectal cancer (WealthBriefing)
• 19 October 2014 – Died at age 66 (WealthBriefing)
• Spring 2016 – Sons sought legal redress under the Inheritance Act 1975 (Vardags)
• Post‑2014 – Will made public; sons express disappointment; inheritance controversy covered in media

The pattern: the will dispute turned a private loss into a public battle that dragged on for years.

Quotes

“We were left with nothing.”

– reported by Daily Mirror, quoting the sons’ perspective

“I was a heavy smoker and I think it contributed.”

– Lynda Bellingham, in an interview after her diagnosis (Daily Mirror)

For the sons, the inheritance dispute turned a private loss into a public battle that dragged on for years. For Bellingham’s wider legacy, the controversy risks overshadowing a career that brought warmth to millions of living rooms. The trade‑off is clear: a will that prioritised one person created a rift that may never fully heal.

Frequently asked questions

Also read: Victoria Wood: Private Cancer, Comedy Legacy & Family · Paul Ritter: Brain Tumour, Cause of Death & Famous Roles