Jacqueline Pearce, the actress best known for playing Supreme Commander Servalan in BBC sci-fi series Blake's 7, has passed away aged 74.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS4x4614tr0

The actress was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, her friend of 25 years John Ainsworth, who was with her when she died, said in a statement.

"She was outrageous, she was very honest and very straightforward, which didn't always go down very well, but you knew where you were with her," he said. “She liked a glass of champagne and liked everyone to have a good time with her, and of course she was a brilliant actress and everyone who worked with her remembered her very fondly.”

https://twitter.com/MakingBlakes7/status/1036715569855320066

Pearce also played Chessene in the Two Doctors episode of Doctor Who alongside Colin Baker in 1985, and featured in episodes of The Avengers and Danger Man.

https://twitter.com/DrMatthewSweet/status/1036660357891338240

Former Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies, whom she worked with on children's drama Moondial, said in a statement: "It was a joy, working with Jacqueline on the first drama I ever wrote, Dark Season. She was glorious, vivid, passionate, filthy and the most wonderful company. And underneath the style and the laughter, a truly fine actor."

Baker also added a tribute on Twitter.

"Such sad sad news," he wrote. "Lovely Jacqueline Pearce has left us. Sublime actress and lady. Class. Will be much missed."

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