The Good Life actress Dame Penelope Keith dies aged 86

Actress Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, has died at the age of 86.

A statement released on Monday on behalf of her family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.

"The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."

She famously played snobbish suburban neighbour Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life, as well as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born.

The Surrey-born actress joined the Royal Shakespeare company in 1963 and went on to win an Olivier Award for best comedy performance in 1976, for her role in the play Donkey's Years.

But she became a household name playing Margo in The Good Life from 1975, winning the Bafta TV award for best light entertainment performance in 1977.

She followed that by playing widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born, which first aired in 1979.

She won another Bafta TV award soon after, this time for best actress for The Norman Conquests and Saving It For Albie.

Her other sitcom credits in the 1980s and 90s included Executive Stress, No Job for a Lady and Next of Kin.

The much-loved actress succeeded Laurence Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989.

This century, working largely in theatre, she played Madame Arcati in a 2004 production of Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in a 2007 version of The Importance of Being Earnest.

She was a made a dame in 2014 for services to the arts and charity.

Former culture secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt led the tributes, posting on X: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE. She was a neighbour and friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford.

"She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, and brought happiness to millions. RIP dear Penny."

R.I.P.

Kirstie Allsopp left furious by Bafta tribute to Penelope Keith as Channel 4 star lashes out at film organisation



Kirstie Allsopp has taken aim at Bafta over their film organisation's tribute to Dame Penelope Keith, who died on Sunday aged 86 after living with cancer.

The Location, Location, Location presenter was left fuming after the film and television organisation used the word "passing" rather than "death" in their message honouring the beloved actress.

Taking to X, Ms Allsopp wrote: "It's 'death', Dame Penelope died, she was an absolute national treasure, she lived & worked and was brilliant and then she died.

"Dame Penelope did not 'pass', she was not a car or a bottle of ketchup."

She also questioned why British culture has shifted away from using direct language around death.

Ms Allsopp made clear she had done her homework before firing off her criticism.

She pointed out that Dame Penelope's family had issued a statement saying the actress "died peacefully whilst living with cancer" at her Surrey home - wording she described as "a particularly elegant way of addressing two issues."

The TV presenter stressed that she had verified the family's language before taking Bafta to task.

She added: "BAFTA is an organisation not a person, and as Dame Penelope's family statement said she had died, they should have at least reflected their language."

Ms Allsopp also lamented Britain's broader reluctance to discuss death directly, asking: "When did we move from saying 'sad to hear of the death of...' to 'sad to hear of the passing of'?"

The backlash sparked a heated debate online, with opinions firmly divided.

One user defended the use of softer language, saying: "I think it is a choice of words that different people are comfortable with. You should use what you feel comfortable using and let others use what they prefer. Let's not judge, it is a personal viewpoint."

But Ms Allsopp found a powerful ally in Jeremy Clarkson, who declared on X: "I loathe 'passing'. Loathe it."