The Good Life actress Dame Penelope Keith dies aged 86 after cancer diagnosis

Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in The Good Life and To The Manor Born, has died aged 86.

The family of the iconic British sitcom star said in a statement: ‘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.

‘[We’re] grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.’

The 80s TV legend starred as the snobbish Margo Leadbetter in the hit BBC series The Good Life from 1975 to 1978 opposite Paul Eddington, Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers, for which she won a Bafta.

She won a second Bafta for her role in The Norman Conquests, a TV adaptation of Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy of plays, where she also played the leading role on stage.

Elsewhere, she appeared as widowed aristocrat Audrey in To The Manor Born between 1979 and 1981 (watched by over 20 million each week), reprising her role for a one-off special in 2007. She was also the narrator for Morecambe and Wise in Pieces: The Sketches.

She made a name for herself with her pitch-perfect portrayals of the English upper-middle and upper classes, especially through her accent.

Reflecting on her reputation in 2006, she said: ‘I don’t know what posh means any more, but most actors of my generation use received pronunciation because that’s what we had to do.

Other high-profile small screen projects include her first major role in the ITV drama series Kate as an agony aunt and the BBC series Next of Kin in the 90s.

Her final high-profile TV project was an appearance as Lady Catherine De Bourgh in Death Comes to Pemberley in 2013. In 2017, she also presented the Channel 4 reality series, Village of the Year.

In 2014, she was made a Dame for services to the arts and to charity, and said at the time: ‘It’s a recognition for not only my 54 years being an actress but also for all the charities with which I’m associated, and I think they’ll be thrilled.’

Beyond TV, where she mastered the world of British comedy, she was also a prolific stage star.

She won an Olivier Award, after which she was dubbed ‘the funniest woman in the West End’, in 1976, where she played Lady Driver in Michael Frayn’s comedy Donkey’s Years.

She married twice-divorced police detective Rodney Timson in 1978, two years after meeting him while performing in Chichester, and the two shared a home with their adopted sons.

‘We’ve been married 33 years, and they all said we wouldn’t last. He likes looking after me and I enjoy that,’ she said about her marriage in 2010.

Born in April 1940, she trained for the stage at the Webber Douglas Academy and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, early in her career.

She made her West End debut, Suddenly at Home, in the mid-1960s before making her onscreen debut in the early 1970s.

Tributes have started pouring in for the national treasure.

Former co-star Felicity wrote: ‘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.’

Former culture secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt wrote 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.’

We're saddened to learn of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith, aged 86. A familiar face on stage and screen, Keith won a BAFTA for her iconic role in The Good Life in 1977 and another for her work in The Norman Conquests and Saving It For Albie in 1978, with a further three BAFTA…

Labour peer Stewart Wood wrote: ‘Easy to forget how huge To The Manor Born was. Regularly watched by over 20 million each week. The 1979 first series finale was the highest-rated UK TV broadcast for any non-live event in the 1970s, seen by 24 million people. Penelope Keith was TV royalty in my childhood. RIP.’

‘Dame Penelope Keith, much-adored actress across more than half a century, has died aged 86. Forever remembered for starring in the biggest of BBC comedy hits The Good Life and To the Manor Born,’ Morris Bright MBE shared.

In a change to their programming schedule, the BBC will air a classic episode from the third series of The Good Life at 7pm on BBC Two.

In a statement, Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy called her ‘one of the defining figures of British television comedy.’

He continued: ‘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.’

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