Felicity Kendal has remembered Dame Penelope Keith, her co-star in The Good Life, as a “comic genius” who was “a joy to know and work with”, in a statement to the Press Association.
The actress, whose death aged 86 was announced on Monday, was best known as snobbish suburbanite Margo Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom, as well as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born.
She had been diagnosed with cancer.
In her statement, Kendal said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope’s death. The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius.
“My heart goes out to her beloved Rodney at this time, theirs was a great love story and partnership. She was a joy to know and work with, and she will be much missed.”
A statement, Dame Penelope’s family said they were “deeply saddened” to announce that she had “died peacefully whilst living with cancer” at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years.
The statement continued: “The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Dame Penelope started her career on the stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, but became a household name for her work in sitcoms.
She won a Bafta in 1977 for playing snobbish bullying social climber Margo, who later reveals a heart of gold.
The Good Life followed couple Tom and Barbara Good, played by Richard Briers and Kendal, who try to escape the rat race in their suburban house in Surbiton.
They try to become self-sufficient, turning their gardens into an allotment and introducing farmyard animals, much to the horror of their neighbours – Margo and her husband Jerry.
In the first episode, she was heard but not seen but her presence increased as the show went on.
The BBC has confirmed it will show one of the best loved episodes from The Good Life’s third series which sees war break out between the Goods and the Leadbetters on Monday at 7pm.
Jon Petrie, director of BBC Comedy, said: “All of us at BBC Comedy are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith. She was one of the defining figures of British television comedy.
“Her iconic performance as Margo in The Good Life remains one of the nation’s most beloved sitcom roles and continues to delight audiences today. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and all of those who had the privilege of working with her.”
In To The Manor Born, Dame Penelope’s character Audrey is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after the death of her husband.
She moves into the estate’s modest lodge house but manages to keep her butler and Rolls-Royce.
From the lodge she can keep an eye on new owner and nouveau riche supermarket millionaire Richard DeVere, played by Peter Bowles.
All episodes of The Good Life and To The Manor Born have been made available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
The comedy star also appeared in sitcoms Executive Stress, No Job For A Lady and Next Of Kin, and won a Bafta for a TV adaptation of The Norman Conquests, in a role she reprised after a run on stage.
She also lent her voice to adverts, including Pimm’s, Lurpak, and most famously, the Parker Pen Company, which was named one of the 100 greatest adverts.
In recent years, she had returned more to the theatre, taking on roles such as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest.
She also turned her hand to factual programmes, including Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages, Penelope Keith’s Coastal Villages and Penelope Keith At Her Majesty’s Service.
She married policeman Rodney Timson in 1978 and the couple adopted two sons.
She was made a dame in 2014 for services to the arts and charity.
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