Buxom comedian Dawn French has been dropped by Terry's Chocolate Orange after more than 10 years promoting the product.

While the company insists it was "time to move on", others have suggested the decision was made because her weight made her an undesirable role model amidst fears over increased obesity levels.

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Dumped: after 10 years in the role, Dawn French has been dropped by Terry's Chocolate Orange

The Vicar of Dibley star, who made the "It's not Terry's, it's mine" catch cry famous, has been a spokesperson for the company since 1997.

Trade journal Marketing said: "Insiders have speculated that French was no longer presenting the right image for the company in the current climate of concerns over obesity and health."

Terry's denied such claims, with marketing manager Stephanie Lea saying: "We are grateful to Dawn for the major impact she has had on our advertising and for the value that she has added over the last 10 years.

"After such a long partnership we feel that the campaign has run its course and we are in the process of developing different work.

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End is near: the 49-year-old actress says she expects to die young

French has in fact spoken of her plans to wind down her career because of her firm belief that she will die young.

Despite insisting she is fit and healthy, she said she was "resigned" to the idea, and revealed she intends to move to Cornwall because she wants to spend the rest of her life there.

She said: "I've never thought I'd live to be very old. I've always felt that. So by 50 I want to be down there (Cornwall)."

The actress revealed she wants to die "slowly and nicely, in great surroundings, with my family. It is a bit shocking isn't it?"

In the meantime, she is set to return to screens next month in the BBC1 series, A Bucket of French and Saunders.