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Tamm, who played the Doctor's companion Romana alongside Tom Baker, died at her home in south London after losing her 18 month fight against the disease.

Tributes were paid to the "truly beautiful" actress for her "sheer talent" and ''zest for life''.

Social networking sites were also full of praise after the Doctor Who official site posted its "great sadness" at the news on Thursday.

The actress, born in Bradford, West Yorks, to poor Estonian refugees, had a long career on stage and screen after not starting to learn English until she went to primary school.