Wendy Richard's career spanned nearly five decades. She first found fame with her distinctive Cockney vocals on the 1962 number-one single “Come Outside”, before becoming best known as the sharp-witted shop assistant Miss Shirley Brahms in Are You Being Served? (1972–1985), appearing in all 69 episodes. Her most iconic role came as Pauline Fowler, matriarch of the Fowler family, in EastEnders from its very first episode in 1985 through to 2006, amassing over 2,000 appearances. She was appointed MBE in 2000 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 British Soap Awards.