Gilly Coman, who played Aveline in the Eighties sitcom Bread, has died from a suspected heart attack at the age of 50.

More than 21 million watched her Catholic character – a wannabe model - marry Protestant vicar Oswald in 1988.

Gilly, from Wirral, left Bread in 1989 after five series and was replaced by Melanie Hill. She retired from acting in 2000 to be a full-time mum to her three boys and daughter.

Bread writer Carla Lane said yesterday: ‘She was brilliant…. amazingly funny.

‘The way that she dressed up in those high heels and walked down the street represented Bread for me.’