Born in Leeds, the writer, who began with plays, died on Sunday.

Other TV credits included Band of Gold and football series Playing The Field.

Mellor also worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children's drama Children's Ward.

Fat Friends, about the members of a slimming group in Leeds, starred James Corden, Ruth Jones, Alison Steadman and Mellor's youngest daughter, Gaynor Faye, and was later turned into a musical.

Mellor chose its theme tune, The Beautiful South's Perfect 10, when she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2017, saying that every time she heard it she would "get excited and get butterflies".

A spokesperson for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, said: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May.

"We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends at this time."