Dame Penelope Keith Dies Aged 86

[The Picnic Wasp]

I was very saddened to hear of this a few minutes ago. She was one of those stars that were such a part of my growing up years. Such a very English personality and a great comedy actress. I recently watched all of The Good Life episodes again. It's one of those timeless pieces of acting and writing, just like Steptoe & Son. The kind of programmes we seem incapable of making now. I recently had a discussion about the age 86. It does seem like the time when many start to fail.

R.I.P

[Nickslikk2112]

RIP Margo.

[Slim]

I was sad to hear this, as well. I remember sitting down to watch the very first episode of The Good Life. Wikipedia tells me that was April 1975. She was still 34 when she appeared in the first series. Felicity Kendal was 28!

Was never a fan of To the Manor Born.

[R6GYY]

I was watching Dame Penelope a few weeks back actually in some awful reality thing about re-purposing country houses and the like. We lasted about 15 minutes - not Penelope's fault, just everything else didn't gel with us.

RIP Penelope.

I wonder if anyone called her Penny? And if they did, were they put in their place?

[Nickslikk2112]

Forgot to big up the fact that she was made in Derbyshire! Well, her first professional gig was in Rep at Chesterfield Civic Theatre (Later the Pomegranate, soon to be the 1435)

[pxr5]

Aww, that's sad news. She was brilliant in The Good Life, but I never watched To The Manor Born. RIP.

[David L]

She was superb at delivering funny lines. I also never watched To The Manor Born but The Good Life was essential viewing for a lad in the '70s (and we all know why 😁)

RIP Margo

[dom]

I enjoyed To The Manor Born at the time but when I watched some of them again a few years ago it wasn't great, certainly no comparison with The Good Life, one of the greatest ever sit coms.

Part of what made it great of course was the perfect casting , including Penelope. RIP.

[pxr5]

I was reading earlier that she only had one line in the 1st episode of The Good Life and wasn't even seen. Her character was the perfect counter for the Good's new life.