British actress Gillian Taylforth's ex-husband has died after a battle with cancer.

Geoff Knights, who was with the former EastEnders star for 23 years before their split in 2009, passed away three months after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer after complaining of abdominal pain.

Taylforth's union to the star was famously rocky and they made headlines in the U.K. over allegations he cheated on her in 2005 and assaulted her the following year (09).

Earlier this year (13), Knights was accused of breaching an order which barred him from contacting Taylforth.

The pair has two children.