• The Bold and the Beautiful *

TODAY, 4.30PM, TEN

Life around the Forrester mansion is about to get a lot less bold and beautiful as the Machiavellian matriarch Stephanie (Susan Flannery) is finally felled by lung cancer. In this tear-soaked episode, her nearest and dearest are shown in a video tribute celebrating her life. "How I have loved you and despised you," says Eric, which pretty much sums up the general mood. Stephanie spends her final moments in the arms of her former adversary, Brooke. After nearly 26 years as the titan of daytime TV, Flannery does full justice to her exit. As far as affecting soap deaths go, this is almost up there with Molly dying in A Country Practice way back in the 80s.