Kay Mellor is well known for writing a number of much-loved TV dramas such as Band of Gold, Fat Friends and The Syndicate.
The Leeds star began her career as a writer for Granada Television in the 1980s, writing for the soap series Coronation Street as well as contributing to the iconic Channel 4 soap Brookside in 1989.
Sadly, Mellor has died aged 71. A spokesperson 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 15th May 2022.
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"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."
The star has two famous daughters Yvonne Francas and Gaynor Faye who are notable actresses and producers. Kay became pregnant at just 16-years with her first child Yvonne and married her father Anthony Mellor when she was 17. They later had their second daughter Gaynor.
Who are Gaynor Faye and Yvonne Francas?
Gaynor Faye is an actress and soap star, best known for playing Megan Macey in Emmerdale from 2012 until 2019 and Judy Mallett in Coronation Street from 1995 until 1999. She also appeared in Dancing on Ice and became the first to win the series in 2006.
Gaynor left Emmerdale because of a promise she made to her mum. Kaye wanted her daughter to appear in the stage version of her drama, Band of Gold, which first aired on ITV in 1995.
Gaynor revealed: "I was working on Emmerdale at the time and got involved in workshopping Band of Gold and people just loved it… absolutely loved it.”
"Then I got asked if I would be in it, but I was still in Emmerdale, so then I had to make the choice whether or not I was going to leave Emmerdale or not. That was a big choice to make.
"She really wanted me in it. She really liked my version of Rose so, for her, she really wanted me to do it. But it was a big decision I had to make and I didn’t make it lightly."
Unlike her mum and sister Yvonne decided not to be in front of the camera. However, she is still a part of the entertainment industry as she went onto become a television producer.
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