Prime minister Brown pays tribute to Goody

British prime minister Gordon Brown joined several personalities today in paying tribute to late TV reality star Jade Goody, hailing her as a "courageous woman both in life and death."

"The whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children," said the prime minister, who was "deeply saddened" by the death.

"She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer," Brown said.

Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey in south London where Goody grew up, said, "Jade Goody was a Bermondsey girl who went from public ridicule and public rebukes to public respect and public sympathy.

Goody, 27, who fought a very public battle with cervical cancer, died peacefully in her sleep in the wee hours of Sunday at her Upshire, Essex home.

Contrary to her life which had become a reality TV spectacle, her death was a private affair with her mother Jackiey Budden and husband Jack Tweed by her side.

"My beautiful daughter is at peace," her mother said while addressing the media after Goody's death.

"Family and friends would like privacy at last," said Budden.

Goody's friend and publicist Max Clifford said, "She was a very, very brave girl. And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life - full on, with a lot of courage".

Bishop Blake, who conducted the blessing of Goody's wedding to Jack Tweed, said, "She was an extraordinary person, she's become for all of us almost like a saint, a saint of Upshire, a princess from Bermondsey."

Family friend Danny Hayward said the funeral would be an "open" affair.

"It will not be a closed service at all. Her wishes were that everybody who wanted to could come," he said.

The reality TV star, who became one of the most hated person in Britain after she racially abused Indian star Shilpa Shetty on the celebrity edition of "Big Brother" show in 2007, became a national hero by deciding to go public about her battle with cervical cancer.

Her struggle encouraged many young women to take smear test for the early detection of disease.

Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said, "Her brave battle with an aggressive form of cervical cancer has received widespread public attention and encouraged thousands of women to seek advice on how to prevent the disease.

The producers of Big Brother, a show which made her one of the most popular star in Britain, will reportedly pay tribute to Goody when the show returns for its tenth series this summer.

"Jade was Big Brother. She completely embodied the show. This series is a milestone for the show, reaching the decade, so it will be made in tribute to Jade. The series is dedicated to her," a show insider told News of the World.

"We have all looked on in horror at what was happening to (Jade) after she became ill. Our biggest star, our only real star, faded in front of our eyes," the insider added.

Prince Azim of Brunei, a friend of late star, said, "Jade was a warm and lovely lady. My condolences to Jack and her family."

As the news of her death broke on Sunday, many well-wishers paid their homage to the star by leaving flowers and teddy bears outside her home in Upshire, Essex.

The online community also joined in to pay their homage to the late star, describing Goody "a brave mother".

"May God bless and keep you safe, you will be sorely missed. I miss you already. Did I ever tell you you are my hero," a fan wrote online.