TV writer Kay Mellor OBE is best known for producing iconic TV dramas such as Girlfriends, Band of Gold, Fat Friends and The Syndicate. It was announced on Tuesday, May 17 that she had passed away aged 71.
The Leeds-born star started her TV writing career in the 1980s working for Granada Television, where she produced scripts for the soap series Coronation Street, Leeds Live reports. In 1989, she also contributed to the Channel 4 soap Brookside and her TV series Fat Friends which ran for five years from 2000 and saw the rise to fame of Ruth Jones and James Corden.
A spokesperson for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, released the following statement: "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.
"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 sadly leaves behind two daughters Yvonne Francas and Gaynor Faye, who followed in her footsteps paving careers in the TV industry - even working with her on the same productions at times. Kay and her husband Anthony Mellor welcomed their first child Yvonne, when Kay was 16 and their second daughter Gaynor in 1971.
Who are Kay Mellor's daughters Gaynor Faye and Yvonne Francas?
Actress Gaynor Faye is well known amongst soap fans, she played Megan Macey in ITV's Emmerdale from 2012 until 2019. But before landing her role on the Yorkshire soap, in the late 90s Gaynor played Judy Mallett in Coronation Street.
The 50-year-old actress also appeared on the first series of ITV's Dancing on Ice back in 2006 and went on to win the series alongside pro skating partner Daniel Whiston. Gaynor also starred in her mum's TV series Fat Friends as Lauren Harris and in 2021, starred in the fourth series of The Syndicate alongside Neil Morrissey.
When Gaynor decided to walk away from her role in Emmerdale, she revealed it was a decision she "didn't make lightly" but it was because her mum Kay wanted her to appear in the stage version of her drama, Band of Gold, which first aired on ITV in 1995. The actress explained: "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."
Gaynor's older sister Yvonne also followed her mum into the TV and entertainment industry but decided not to be in front of the camera. She went on to become a TV producer, working on series such as Our Girl, Death in Paradise, Scott and Bailey and more.
