Terminally-ill 'EastEnders' star gets married

Terminally-ill Wendy Richard and her new husband smiled and waved following their star-studded wedding ceremony today.

Richard married her long-term partner John Burns before beginning treatment for cancer.

The ex-'EastEnder', who has beaten cancer twice previously, brought the date of the ceremony, at a hotel in London’s Mayfair, forward after learning the devastating news that the disease had returned.

Richard found the disease had returned to her left armpit during an annual check-up in January. It has since spread to her right kidney and bones.

Celebrity guests who attended the event included Todd Carty, who played Richard’s son Mark Fowler in 'EastEnders', Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy Mitchell in the soap, Laila Morse, who plays Mo Harris, and Richard’s on-screen daughter-in-law Natalie Cassidy.

As the couple left, the pavement outside was strewn with red-petal confetti.

The couple got into a stretch-Saab with blacked-out windows.

The actress’s beloved dog Lily, a two-year-old Cairn Terrier, who is the niece of Betty, Pauline Fowler’s dog in 'EastEnders', was a special guest.

Mr Burns smiled and waved Lily’s paw before the couple left.

David Croft, a creator of 'Dad's Army', was another guest.

Richard left the hotel dressed in a smart grey wrap-over cardigan.

Her character, Pauline, was known for her cardigan-wearing habits in 'EastEnders'.

Around 60 family members and close friends are thought to have attended the civil ceremony and reception.

Richard has been with her new husband for 13 years and he is 20 years the star’s junior.

Guests generally kept tight-lipped about details of the ceremony.

Scores of photographers stood outside the hotel as the proceedings, which lasted just over three hours, took place.

One guest said a pianist had been entertaining the wedding-goers by playing Glenn Miller jazz classics as background music.

Another guest, holding a glass of champagne, described it as a “joyous occasion with the dog playing a major part.

“It barked right on time.”

Lily was brought out of the hotel for a break on her lead a couple of times as the celebrations went on.

Earlier, the groom, dressed in a grey suit, emerged from the hotel, giving the “thumbs-up” signal, indicating that the ceremony had gone well.

As he was leaving, Carty grinned and said: “It was a wonderful day, a wonderful day for Wendy and John.”

It is understood that guests were treated to the traditional champagne and canapes during the reception at the Chesterfield hotel.

Presents for the newlyweds were loaded into the boot of their car.

Richard previously said she wanted to have a “pain-free” day and a laugh at the event, being featured in an exclusive deal with 'OK!' magazine.

The couple’s honeymoon, in the US, has been postponed until after the star finishes her chemotherapy, which starts on Monday.

Richard, who played Pauline in EastEnders for 21 years, has been married three times previously.

Before 'EastEnders', she became a household name in the celebrated sitcom 'Are You Being Served?'.