By CLAIRE SMITH
AS PAULINE Fowler, Wendy Richard faced 21 years of trials and tribulations in EastEnders.
Yesterday, however, she was all smiles as she married her long-term partner – just days after revealing that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
Richard said her one wish was for a fun and "pain-free" day among her friends and family.
She smiled and waved to photographers as she arrived at London's Chesterfield Hotel for her wedding to John Burns, who is 20 years her junior, which was moved forward to fit in with her next bout of chemotherapy – which begins on Monday.
They are planning a honeymoon in the United States – but have postponed it until the actress is in better health.
Richard said her diagnosis had inspired the couple, who have been together for 13 years, to plan their wedding:
"We were going to get married anyway, but when we got the diagnosis we decided to push ahead and get married now. There was no rush before."
Among the 60 guests attending the ceremony were East- Enders stars Natalie Cassidy, Perry Fenwich and Emma Barton, as well as Todd Carty, who played Richard's on-screen son.
A glossy magazine is believed to have paid for exclusive access to the party. Mr Burns yesterday said that the couple, who live in Marylebone, were determined to enjoy their day, despite the circumstances.
"It will be one day when we can, hopefully, put Wendy's illness to the side because it has been a very turbulent time.
"All we have had recently is bad news. It has just been one depressing phone call after another."
According to friends, the actress has been inundated with messages of love and support from fans and colleagues.
Richard, who is a heavy smoker, has fought off breast cancer twice, but in January was told the disease had spread to her right kidney and bones.
She said in a recent interview that she had been in pain for the past five years, adding: "Some nights I've just wanted to scream the place down."
The actress has already written her will and arranged her funeral, saying: "You've got to be practical about these things. I want all my affairs to be in order."
Richard played Pauline Fowler, the endlessly put-upon matriarch of Albert Square, for 21 years before leaving the soap in 2006.
She is also well-known as the sexy but slightly dippy assistant Miss Brahms in the BBC comedy Are You Being Served as well as for several roles in the Carry On films. Continued...
This is a sad love story. If I am on her shoes, I don't know what to do.
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