Star of Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? and Still Open All Hours,

Brigit Forsyth, who starred in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? and Still Open All Hours, has died at the age of 83.

The Scottish actress Forsyth played Thelma Ferris, the long-suffering wife of Rodney Bewes’ character Bob, in the hit 1970s BBC sitcom.

She also played Madge in Still Open All Hours (pictured) and the snobbish Francine Pratt, the wife of Ricky Tomlinson’s character Jim in the 2000 BBC footballing drama Playing The Field.

She died ‘peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family’ yesterday, her agent Mark Pemberton confirmed, praising her ‘varied and notable career in stage, screen and radio.’

Her radio roles included playing Pearl in the Radio 4 sitcom Ed Reardon’s Week.

Among those paying tribute were broadcaster Danny Baker, who posted: ‘Without Brigit Forsyth The Likely Lads would not have had the chemistry it had. A top class comic actor who enabled the narrative brilliantly.

And writer David Hepworth said her talent was ‘a reminder that most of our best actors aren’t stars’.

Published: 2 Dec 2023