Strictly Full Monty’s Laila Morse breaks down in tears as she reveals EastEnders co-star Wendy Richard ‘saved her life’

STRICTLY The Full Monty's Laila Morse tonight broke down in tears as she talked about how her pal Wendy Richard "saved her life".

The soap star, who is known for playing Big Mo, worked with the late actress on EastEnders and they became best friends.

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This evening, Laila, 76, opened up on Strictly The Real Full Monty about her breast cancer battle which started in 2000 when she found a lump.

She then revealed and how she credits Wendy with "saving her life" when she convinced her to go to the doctors.

It turned out that Laila's lump was cancer but luckily, because it was diagnosed early, it was treatable.

Speaking on tonight's show she revealed how her "best friend Wendy" encouraged her to go to the doctors.

Laila went on to say she didn't think she "would still be here" if her beloved pal hadn't insisted she get the lump checked.

Her good friend Wendy sadly endured her own breast cancer battle, which in the end claimed her life.

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The late actress was diagnosed with the disease in 1996, and after years of treatment, she was given a clean bill of health in 2005.

Sadly her cancer returned and she died in 2009.

Laila paid tribute to her pal tonight, it a heartflet moment that left viewers in tears.

The EastEnders star is one of the 12 celebrities taking part in this year’s ITV extravaganza, filmed in the Empress Ballroom at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

The dance routine will include a mix of styles and close with a mass striptease in the final episode.

Viewers tonight saw Ashley Banjo leading a brand-new line-up of brave celebrities, ready to take the famous Full Monty strip to a whole new level.

The nervous new recruits are baring all to raise awareness of life-saving cancer checks, whilst bringing old school glitz and glamour to the all-new supersized strip.

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Strictly The Full Monty concludes tomorrow night.