Jade Goody was arguably the most successful player of the television reality game show Big Brother, even though she was evicted from the house by public vote on the final day in 2002.

Despite finishing fourth in the third series of the Channel 4 show, she was undoubtedly the biggest star of it and any subsequent Big Brother series, so much so that in 2007 she was invited back, along with her mother and boyfriend, for Celebrity Big Brother.

In the meantime she had hosted television chat shows, released fitness and cooking DVDs, launched a brand of perfume, written an autobiography, and become a favourite subject of the gossip press.

Her cancer ordeal, leading up to her death in the early hours of Mother's Day - Sunday March 22, 2009 - was documented in detail by British newspapers and television.

Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody was born on 5 June, 1981 in Bermondsey.

She first came to public attention for her role in Big Brother 3. She became a figure of fun for the tabloids and comedians, particularly Graham Norton whose nightly show followed Big Brother broadcasts.

But she won over the public who recognised her entertainment value and when she left the house she gave a series of newspaper interviews and appeared on Graham Norton's show making fun of herself.

But her time on the Celebrity Big Brother spin-off was less happy when she was accused of racism towards fellow contestant, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. A contrite Jade made several public apologies and travelled to India to say how sorry she was for the hurt and pain her actions had caused.

In August 2008 she appeared in her third Big Brother series, the Indian show Bigg Boss, but left after two days following her diagnosis with cervical cancer. The following February she revealed that the cancer had spread and she was undergoing emergency treatment to prolong her life.

The devastating illness caused Jade to drop out of her role as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Lincoln's Theatre Royal in December 2008.

Theatre director Chris Moreno said: "It’s incredibly hard to believe that three months ago she was laughing and singing on stage in Lincoln.

"She suffered an awful disease but was totally professional throughout and always wanted everything just right."

When the people of India heard the news of her illness, they flooded her with emails, letters and get-well cards, while Shilpa Shetty urged people to pray for her, having made friends with her .

Jade had two sons, Bobby and Freddie, with TV presenter Jeff Brazier.

In the weeks leading up to her death she married her fiance Jack Tweed and was christened alongside her sons.

The star died at home at 3.14am on Mother's Day.

Her mother Jackiey Budden said: "My beautiful daughter is at peace."

Ms Budden, husband Jack Tweed, and friend Kevin Adams were at Jade's bedside when she died in her sleep.