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Band of Gold and Fat Friends creator Kay Mellor dies aged 71
A cause of death is yet to be confirmed
Kay Mellor, the creator of Band of Gold and Fat Friends, has died at the age of seventy-one.
Leeds-born Mellor was known best for creating and writing the ITV series Fat Friends, which is credited with launching James Corden’s career.
She also wrote comedy and drama series such as The Syndicate, Girlfriends and Band of Gold, and spent time working on ITV soap Coronation Street.
A spokesperson for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, has today confirmed ‘with profound sadness’ that Mellor passed away on Sunday, May 15th.
The spokesperson 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.
“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 BBC’s chief content officer Charlotte Moore has also paid tribute to Mellor following her death, saying she is ‘shocked’ and ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.
Moore said in a statement: “Kay was an outstanding writer and the creative force behind many of the nation’s best-loved television dramas.
“She wrote with such heart, humanity, humour and passion with strong female characters often taking centre stage.”
Katherine Morley, who worked with Kay on The Syndicate, also paid tribute to Mellor in a touching post on Twitter, writing: “I am in complete shock and utterly heartbroken to hear about Kay Mellor.
“She showed me so much kindness from the moment we met and she made everyone’s lives that bit brighter.
“I’m honoured to have known her and even more grateful for the opportunity she gave me.”