Kay Purcell

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Kay Purcell
Kay Purcell.jpg
Purcell as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns
Born(1963-12-06)6 December 1963
Leyland, Lancashire, England
Died23 December 2020(2020-12-23) (aged 57)
Lancashire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1993–2020
TelevisionEmmerdale
Waterloo Road
Tracy Beaker Returns
The Dumping Ground
So Awkward
Children3

Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020)[1][2] was an English actress, who appeared as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns and in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground, Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale, Mrs. Rennison in So Awkward and Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road.[3][4]

Career[]

Purcell's first acting role was as a TV reporter in the TV series Cracker in 1995. She then later starred in Coronation Street as Rhona Summers for 3 episodes in 1997. She appeared as Jenny in the TV series City Central. In 1998 and 2000, she starred in the BBC 1 series Casualty. In 1998 she played WDC McCarthy, and in 2000 played Diane Abley. Later in 2000, she starred in the TV series Children's Ward as Winsome. Her first major role was as Cynthia Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale. She starred in 187 episodes from 2001 to 2002. Her next major role was in Bernard's Watch in 2004–2005, as Ms. Savage for 21 episodes. Purcell played a recurring role in BBC's Waterloo Road as Bolton Smilie's Mum Candice Smilie from 2007–2009. She played the role of Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns for three series, as well as the first series of the spin-off series The Dumping Ground, her departure was unexplained in later episodes, although head writer Elly Brewer stated that Gina left to get a position in order to have more money to pay for her Mother, who has dementia. In 2002, Purcell took part in the show Celebrity Fit Club, where she and the other celebrities lost weight for charity.[5] In February 2021, Purcell was featured in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Mo Larkin; her final acting role before her death.[6]

Illness and death[]

In early 2017, Purcell was diagnosed with breast cancer.[7] Purcell posted images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease.[8] In early 2020, Purcell was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and was given a life expectancy of two years.[9] She died from metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her liver on 23 December 2020, aged 57.[2]

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Cracker TV Reporter Episode: "True Romance: Part 2"
1996–1998 Emmerdale Carmel Morgan Recurring role; 9 episodes
1997 Coronation Street Rhona Summers 3 episodes
1998 Casualty WDC McCarthy Episode: "Taking Sides"
1999 City Central Jenny Episode: "Paradise Lost"
1999 My Parents Are Aliens Mrs. Williams Episode: "The Home Team"
2000 Casualty Diane Abley Episode: "Fall Out"
2000 Children's Ward Winsome Episode #12.8
2001–2002 Emmerdale Cynthia Daggert Regular role; 187 episodes
2003 Holby City Heather Nixon Episode: "Read My Lips"
2004–2005 Bernard's Watch Ms. Savage Main role; 21 episodes
2004 Sex Lives of the Potato Men Gloria Film
2005 Messiah Prof Uhomi Episodes: "The Harrowing: Parts 1–3"
2005 Doctors Mrs. Jane Manners 2 episodes
2006 Ideal Alice Episode: "The Delivery"
2006 My Parents Are Aliens Mrs. Brookman 3 episodes
2007–2009 Waterloo Road Candice Smilie Main role; 24 episodes (series 3–5)
2010–2012 Tracy Beaker Returns Gina Conway Main role
2011–2012 Tracy Beaker Survival Files Gina Conway Main role
2012 Hacker Time Herself Episode: "Connor Byrne and Kay Purcell"
2013 The Dumping Ground Gina Conway Main role; 13 episodes (series 1)
2014–2016 Hacker Time Mrs. Breadbin 13 episodes
2015–2016 So Awkward Mrs. Rennison Main role; 18 episodes
2020 When It Rains Sonia Voice role; 5 episodes
2021 Doctors Mo Larkin Episode: "Of Mice and Women"; posthumous release

Theatre[]

References[]

  1. ^ Purcell, Kay (5 December 2018). "My thoughts. My Journey. My Story with Cancer". Facebook. Retrieved 13 September 2018. Tomorrow is my birthday
  2. ^ a b "Kay Purcell of Emmerdale and Tracy Beaker Returns dies at 57". BBC News. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Tracey Beaker Returns Star Kay Purcell's Wicked Role in Doncaster Panto". Doncaster Free Press (Doncaster, England) (subscription required). 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Kay's back home for Christmas". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  5. ^ "TV review: Fats of life for celebs". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) (subscription required). 18 October 2002. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. ^ Timblick, Simon (9 February 2021). "Doctors spoilers: Al Haskey is SPOOKED by Lily Walker's behaviour". Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ "TV star Kay Purcell courageously shares her cancer journey". Blog Preston. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Kay Purcell: My Story".
  9. ^ "Kay Purcell - Facebook".
  10. ^ "THEATRE: Everybody Knows All Birds Have Wings; Pleasance, London". The Independent. 3 February 1997. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  11. ^ Theatre Record. I. Herbert. 1 January 1997. pp. 128–129.
  12. ^ "Hidden truths of hormonal housewives tick all the right boxes". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Theatre review: Hormonal Housewives, Festival Theatre". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Review: Rapunzel, York Barbican". York Press. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  15. ^ "REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty pantomime at Southport Theatre, by Nicola Kenyon". South Port Visiter. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  16. ^ Riley, Joe (16 December 2014). "SLEEPING BEAUTYSouthport Theatre; Review". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) (subscription required). Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Pantomime Reviews: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose and Snow White". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.

External links[]

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