Tributes are paid to Only Fools and Horses actor Kate Saunders, who has died aged 62

Virgin Radio

25 Apr 2023, 07:43

Actor and award-winning novelist and journalist Kate Saunders has died at the age of 62. 

The writer won the Costa Children’s Book Award in 2014 for Five Children on the Western Front, and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal on two occasions. She wrote more than 20 novels for adults and children and was also a columnist for various publications, including the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and Cosmopolitan.

Kate was also a theatre and television actor, and appeared in the first ever episode of Have I Got News For You.

Having joined the National Theatre in 1987, perhaps her most well-known acting role was that of a police officer called Sandra, who Rodney Trotter dated in a 1982 episode of Only Fools and Horses called The Long Legs of the Law. 

She also performed in Angles, ITV Playhouse, A Family Affair, and Just Good Friends.

Kate's sister, Louisa Saunders, posted on Twitter yesterday (April 24th). Sharing an obituary from The Guardian, she wrote: “My sister, who we lost last Friday. The warmest, bravest, most generous, and most brilliant woman I will ever know. Heaven knows how we will live without her.”

The official Only Fools and Horses Twitter account posted: "We are sorry to learn of the passing of Kate Saunders, who played police-woman Sandra in the episode The Long Legs of the Law in 1982.

"In addition to her acting career, Kate was an award-winning novelist, journalist and critic. Our thoughts are with her family."

Faber Books tweeted: “We are extremely saddened by the death of our beloved author, Kate Saunders. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. Kate was a sensational author and a National Treasure. Brilliantly funny, gracious, compassionate, she will be greatly missed by us all."

Bloomsbury books wrote: “We are deeply sad to hear of the passing of Kate Saunders, author of the Laetitia Rodd mysteries, astute critic, award-winning children’s writer, and much more. Sending our love to her friends and family at this difficult time.”

Writer Jonathan Coe took to Twitter to describe Kate as “a supremely gifted woman who has died far too young. RIP Kate.”

Another writer, Kate Griffin, wrote: “Kate Saunders’ books were just wonderful and Five Children on the Western Front was a masterpiece.”

The thoughts of everyone at Virgin Radio are with Kate Saunders’ friends and family.