British entertainer Kerry Wilson has died suddenly aged 56 after suffering from the flu. She passed away on January 3.
Wilson, who was a comedian and impressionist, had appeared on a number of TV programs throughout the years such as The Jonathan Ross Big Talent Show, Talking Telephone Numbers, Who Do You Do? and Summertime Special.
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At age 19, she was the first-ever winner of Bob Says Opportunity Knocks in 1987 and she later played the role of Cheryl Colclough on BBC Radio Stoke’s first-ever soap opera.
The entertainer was considered a beloved local celebrity in the English city of Stoke on Trent, her mother Linda told local publication Stoke On Trent Live.
“In the 80s and 90s, Kerry was like a local celebrity … She was a comedian, an impressionist, a singer, and an all-round entertainer.
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“She had a beautiful, beautiful voice. She had a very eclectic career and she did so many amazing things,” she said, sharing that her daughters frequently appeared on major television networks BBC and ITV.
“Around 15 million people saw how talented she was.”
The TV star had no prior health issues before she was hospitalised for what began as a case of the “sniffles”.
When her daughter told her she wasn’t feeling well, Linda had suggested calling emergency services. She waited a few days before going to see a GP, who saw Kerry right away as her oxygen levels were quickly depleting.
Before Linda and her family knew it, Kerry was in a hospital in a coma, being placed on a ventilator.
“It was identified as influenza A, which affects your lungs very badly and can give you pneumonia,” Linda shared.
“We thought she was starting to recover, but then she contracted sepsis. A little while later she was gone. It was really rapid and totally unexpected.
“We were with her. Her family were at her side when they switched the machine off… The grief was unreal,” shared the mother.
Linda says her daughter was her “best friend”.
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“It seems like a bit of a cliché, but she was a beautiful person inside and out. She made everybody smile.
“She was very funny and had such a generous nature. She was larger than life, and she always managed to light up a room.”
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