On 27 February 2006 , Smith died as a consequence of ovarian cancer at the age of 48 . She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three-and-a-half years earlier but , not wanting to be thought of as a patient or a victim , she did not want people to know . Before she died she chose that her funeral be humanist and her memorial at the Theatre Royal , Stratford East , on 10 March , was dedicated to the BHA . Her life and work were honoured at the British Academy Television Awards in 2006 . The first episode of Dawn French 's '' Girls Who Do : Comedy '' was dedicated to the memory of Linda Smith . A tribute edition of '' The News Quiz '' featuring clips of Linda 's appearances and personal memories of her from other panellists was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 3 March 2006 , hosted by Simon Hoggart
British Academy Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards 2006
Linda Smith (comedian)