Lynda Bellingham's Friend Speaks Out Against Widower Michael Pattemore

The much-loved actress died in October 2014.

Lynda Bellingham's sons went public last week with their distress at how they had been treated by her widower Michael Pattemore, now a friend of the late actress has spoken out. 

Denise Sutton, a longtime friend of the Oxo ad star, tells a Sunday newspaper she warned Lynda "ten times" to stay away from the man she went on to marry.

Denise claims she told her friend just before their wedding in 2008 that she was convinced the timeshare salesman was attracted by Lynda's money and her celebrity lifestyle. 

Michael lost Lynda in October 2014 to colon cancer, and has been travelling a lot since then, posting pictures from far-flung spots around the world. 

It also emerged he had enjoyed an around-the-world trip, following the death of the ‘Loose Women’ star.

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Michael was married to Lynda for six years until her death in 2014
Nick Harvey via Getty Images

Pictures showed him at the Great Wall of China, Uluru in Australia, India’s Taj Mahal and the Kremlin.

However, there was no evidence to suggest the property developer hadn't paid for the trips himself.

Last week, Lynda's sons from her second marriage went public with claims that Michael had evicted them from the family home and withheld their inheritance. 

Michael and Robbie Peluso said the last straw for them, however, was his going public with his grief, describing how he "made love to Lynda's ghost" and entering a new relationship months after their mother's death. 

Now Denise has told the Sunday People

“He used to go on about Lynda’s celebrity friends, about eating in the best restaurants and drinking in the best bars.

“I said to Lynda one time, ‘You must be able to find someone better.’"

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Lynda Bellingham holding her OBE with (left to right) sons Michael and Robert, husband Michael and step-son Bradley
John Stillwell/PA Archive

 Denise reveals she was previously in a relationship with Michael after they met in Spain, where he was working as an estate agent. Michael met Lynda when she was house-hunting in the area, and they began their romance. Lynda and Denise became friends, with the latter revealing Lynda had reassured her all her money from her long, successful career was secure and would go to her sons. 

The newspaper sought comment from Michael Pattemore without success. 

Last week, he spoke out in reaction to her sons' comments about the estate, telling the Mirror:  “We are still going through probate so everything is still frozen.

'Loose Women''s Nadia Sawalha also expressed her discomfort last week, telling viewers: 

“He sat on television and said he’d had sex with Lynda’s ghost - it’s outrageous.

“I used to know Lynda very well and look after the boys when they were younger - she adored those children and I feel she would have been horrified of him saying that on TV.  Absolutely horrified.”

Tap the first picture to open the slideshow:

12 Stars You'd Forgotten Were 'Loose Women'
Karren Brady(01 of12)
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Long before she was answering to Lord Sugar, The Apprentice star Karren was letting loose on the ITV daytime show.

She was one of the original line-up of ladies, appearing on the first episode in 1999.

And while her stint was short-lived, ending just a year later, Karren returned to the panel for an anniversary special in 2017, along with the rest of the women who appeared on that very first show.
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Kerry Katona(02 of12)
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Back when she was Kerry McFadden (those were the days, eh?), the Atomic Kitten singer appeared as a panelist between 2003 and 2004.

She was only 23 when she joined the show, making her the youngest Loose Woman regular ever, and her sometimes naive outlook on life meant she often clashed with Sherrie Hewson, providing many hilarious moments.
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Nina Wadia(03 of12)
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She's best known for playing the opinionated Zainab Masood in EastEnders, but Nina offered up plenty of opinions of her own when she appeared as a series regular between 2005 and 2006. (credit:REX)
Gillian Taylforth(04 of12)
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Another EastEnder who graced the Loose Women panel was Gillian Taylforth – better known as Walford's Kathy Beale.

The actress enjoyed two stints as a Loose lady, first in 2006 and again in 2008.
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Cilla Black(05 of12)
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While the late Cilla will be remembered for her huge TV hits Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, her last regular TV gig was actually as a Loose Woman.

She appeared first as a guest anchor in 2009 and was invited back as a regular panelist between 2010 and 2011, returning for a final appearance in 2014.
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Sarah Millican(06 of12)
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In our humble opinion, Sarah's tenure as a Loose Woman was simply not long enough.

The comic only appeared as a panelist for less than a year in 2011, before leaving to concentrate on her stand-up career.
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Beverley Callard(07 of12)
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During one of her many breaks from Coronation Street, Beverley (aka Liz McDonald) took up a seat behind the famous desk in 2010. (credit:REX)
Kym Marsh(08 of12)
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While Kym has recently enjoyed a few turns as a guest panellist, many have forgotten her original stint as a regular on the show in 2005, back when she sported an interesting (if that's the right word?) set of hair extensions. (credit:REX)
Claire Sweeney(09 of12)
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The former Brookside actress enjoyed over two years on the panel back in 2003, and later returned for six episodes in 2010, and a further two in 2012. (credit:REX)
Sheree Murphy(10 of12)
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Sheree was a welcome addition to the panel in 2006, after she finished playing Emmerdale's much-loved Tricia Dingle. While she left in 2007, she later returned as a guest panellist for an episode in 2015. (credit:REX)
Claire Richards(11 of12)
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After the departure of many of Loose Women's biggest names in 2013 and 2014, Steps singer Claire made a string of guest appearances. She impressed bosses so much, she was soon promoted to a regular.

However, a massive revamp of the show in the September of 2014 saw her leave the show with no explanation.
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Jenny Powell(12 of12)
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The Wheel Of Fortune assistant was finally given a break from turning around letters on a board in 2004, when she joined the Loose Women panel for a year. (credit:ITV)