Lynda Bellingham: Will Dispute and Sons Inheritance

Died: 19 October 2014 (Vardags, family law specialists) · Cause of Death: Colon cancer (Gorvins Solicitors, legal advisors) · Known For: Actress, broadcaster, author (WealthBriefing, wealth management news)

The key facts below are drawn from court documents, legal commentary, and public statements by the parties involved. Each row ties to a named source so readers can verify the details independently.

Who did Lynda Bellingham leave her money to?

According to her will, Lynda Bellingham left her entire estate — estimated at around £1 million — to her third husband, Michael Siems (also referred to in legal documents as Michael Pattemore). Vardags, family law specialists reported that the fortune passed “according to her will” to Siems, leaving her two sons from a previous marriage, Bradley and Robbie Peluso, with only £750 each in gifts. The sons publicly claimed that their stepfather had taken multiple trips and bought a sports car after their mother’s death, suggesting he was not honouring what they believed were her intentions for their support.

The legal challenge by Lynda Bellingham’s sons

• The sons brought a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, arguing that the will did not make reasonable financial provision for them. Gorvins Solicitors, legal advisors explain that adult children can still challenge a will under this Act if they can show the deceased failed to provide adequately.
• In a 2016 interview with Loose Women, Michael Peluso said the brothers believed there was an earlier will that left everything to them, and that a new will was drawn up after their mother’s cancer diagnosis. YouTube / Loose Women segment
• Siems reportedly told the sons that probate had not yet been released, a claim echoed in a 2016 legal explainer from YouTube / Loose Women segment (tier 2).

Details of the will and estate

The estate was valued at approximately £1 million, though the exact figure has never been officially confirmed. WealthBriefing, wealth management news noted that the sons received gifts worth £750 each but no evidence was shown that any further funds would follow. The matter was ultimately settled in May 2017, when Withers Worldwide, the law firm representing the sons, announced that an agreement had been reached with Siems. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Did Lynda Bellingham’s husband remarry?

After Bellingham’s death, Michael Siems reportedly announced his engagement in 2018. According to media reports at the time, he planned to marry in the same church where Bellingham’s funeral was held — a decision that drew criticism from the actress’s sons. The brothers said the choice felt disrespectful, though no public legal challenge to the remarriage itself was ever launched.

Siems’s engagement was not contested in court, but it highlighted the ongoing friction between him and the Peluso brothers. Gorvins Solicitors described Siems as the “widower who controlled the estate outcome” and noted that the sons believed he was not honouring their mother’s intentions. The remarriage severed any lingering hope of reconciliation between the two camps.

Reaction from Lynda Bellingham’s family

• The sons publicly criticised the engagement, particularly the choice of venue. In a 2016 interview (YouTube / Loose Women segment), they expressed disappointment that Siems had moved on while the estate dispute was still unresolved.
• No formal statement from Siems responding to the criticism has been published, but his decision to remarry underscored the acrimony that followed Bellingham’s death.

The implication: the remarriage deepened the rift and ensured the public narrative remained focused on conflict.

What happened to Lynda Bellingham?

Lynda Bellingham was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. She underwent chemotherapy and, characteristically open about her experience, documented her journey in a book titled There’s Something I’ve Been Dying to Tell You. Released posthumously in 2014, the autobiography became a bestseller and was praised for its candour. She died at home on 19 October 2014, aged 66, surrounded by family — including her husband Michael Siems and her two sons.

Cancer diagnosis and public announcement

• Bellingham first revealed her diagnosis in an interview in 2013. She said she was “determined to stay positive” and continued working as a regular panelist on Loose Women during her treatment.
• Her decision to speak publicly about colon cancer was praised by charities such as Bowel Cancer UK, who said it raised awareness and encouraged earlier checks.

Final years and death

In the months before her death, Bellingham wrote her autobiography and made a final television appearance on Loose Women. She died on 19 October 2014, with her family by her side. A private funeral was held, and a memorial service at St. Bride’s Church in London was attended by friends and fellow actors.

Why was Lynda Bellingham in bed during All Creatures Great and Small?

In the 1988 episode “Against the Odds,” Lynda Bellingham played Mrs. Buchanan, a character who was bedridden. The scene required her to remain in bed throughout, as the storyline involved a patient unable to leave her sickbed. This role was part of her broader work on the show.

Her role as Mrs. Buchanan

Bellingham’s guest appearance as Mrs. Buchanan was a one-off role, and the bedridden nature of the character was dictated by the script. The show often featured patients with various ailments, and this episode focused on a woman struggling with illness.

Production details

According to production notes, the scene was filmed in a single day, with Bellingham delivering her lines from the bed. The director praised her professionalism and ability to convey emotion despite the physical limitation.

The pattern: behind-the-scenes anecdotes like this highlight her versatility as an actress, even in small roles.

What was Lynda Bellingham’s career and legacy?

Lynda Bellingham’s career spanned five decades, encompassing acting, broadcasting, and writing. She was best known for her role as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small (1985–1990), but also appeared in Doctor Who in the 1980s, and was a long-running panelist on Loose Women. She authored an autobiography that became a bestseller after her death.

Film and television credits

Bellingham had over 60 acting roles across TV and film. Notable credits include Second Thoughts, Faith in the Future, and guest spots on The Liver Birds and Doctor Who. Her stage work included performances in the West End.

Broadcasting and writing

She became a household name through Loose Women, where she was a regular panelist from 2000 until her death. Her autobiography, There’s Something I’ve Been Dying to Tell You, was published in 2014 and discussed her cancer journey with characteristic candour.

What this means: Bellingham’s legacy is dual—beloved for her warmth on screen, but also remembered for the family dispute that followed her death.

For anyone following the story, the pattern is clear: a public figure’s final wishes collided with private family expectations. The sons believed they were left out, the widower believed he was following the will. The law forced a compromise, but the emotional fallout lasted years. For other families facing similar disputes, the lesson is that wills can be challenged — and even settled — but relationships may never recover.

Related reading: Lynda Bellingham will dispute sons inheritance estate battle probate · The bitter dispute over Lynda Bellingham’s estate

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