We have some very sad news to bring you of the death of former Emmerdale star Kay Purcell.
Kay, 57, played Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale from 2001 to 2002, appearing in 187 episodes. Before this, she appeared as a different recurring character named Carmel Morgan in both 1996 and 1998.
The tragic death of the Emmerdale and Tracey Beaker star was confirmed by her agent, David Daly Associates.
"It is with great regret that we announce the death of Kay Purcell at the age of 57. Kay was a very valued client who had been represented by David Daly Associates for many years. We send sympathy and love to her family and friends" they wrote.
Kay is survived by her three children, Ashley, Shemar and Indika, and her grandson Levon.
Our colleagues at The Mirror report, the actress, also went on to star as Gina Conway in children's show Tracy Beaker Returns and spin-off series The Dumping Ground.
She also featured in Waterloo Road as dinnerlady Candice Smilie.
In a post on a Facebook page, she told fans on December 5 that she had been diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer.
She wrote that she hoped to survive for two more years with treatment.
"Over the last couple of months, I have been feeling unwell, I had put this down to my stomach ulcer," she wrote. "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.”
Our thoughts are with Kay’s family and friends.
