Godmother of `EastEnders' dies

Julia Smith, (left) the co-creator of EastEnders, has died. The BBC said that the woman known to the cast as "the godmother" died yesterday at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, after a short illness. she was in her mid-60s.

Alan Yentob, the BBC's director of television, said: "Julia's feel for drama, her drive and energy were legendary in her 30-year programme making career at the BBC. "There can be no more visible and enduring tribute to her distinguished track record in creating high quality, popular drama than BBC1's EastEnders." Jane Harris, the series producer, said: "EastEnders owes everything to Julia who, with Tony Holland, was the creator and founder of the programme."