By Alice Smellie As Sue Gordon lay frail and exhausted on a hospital bed following intensive treatment for stage three lung cancer, her daughter held her close, in a poignant reversal of the roles of mother and child. Losing a parent is always heart-breaking – yet, ever since that dreadful moment, actress Tricia Penrose has known that hers will be stolen from her far too soon. ‘We’ve always been more like sisters,’ says the 43-year-old from Liverpool, better known to millions across Britain as barmaid Gina in the series Heartbeat. Fomer Heartbeat actress Tricia Penrose (left) immediately gave up acting to care for her mother Sue Gordon who is suffering from lung cancer
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Tricia rose to fame in Heartbeat thanks to support from mother Sue Gordon
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Sue is now being treated for stage-three lung cancer
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Tricia has turned her back on television to care for her mother
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Has received 'many' offers but 'can’t even think about being away’ from Sue
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Tricia became concerned when noticed Sue's weight loss and sunken eyes
Sue wipes her eye: ‘But at least you know what I want – right down to the coffin.’ In fact, @placeholder frequently kept her family buoyant.