As soap favourite Heather Trott actress Cheryl Fergison was part of the Albert Square family, forming strong bonds with a number of her co-stars.
But it was the late and much loved Barbara Windsor to whom she will forever be particularly grateful after the actress helped keep her financially afloat.
Battling Stage 2 cancer of the womb Cheryl had confided in Barbara and her husband Scott - and they immediately dipped into their own coffers to ease her worries. “When I was in EastEnders, I would go to Barbara’s dressing room everyday.
I loved her stories. Barbara was no nonsense - if she didn't like something she would let you know - but she was also a great person to tell your problems too. “She’d say: ‘whatever's going on in your own four walls, when you go outside, put on a smile - the public don't want to see you miserable, darling.” Cheryl was diagnosed in 2015 after experiencing back pain and spotting and underwent both a hysterectomy and radiotherapy, choosing to tell only a few close friends about her ordeal.
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