Brigit Forsyth: Legendary Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? actress dies at 83

Actress Brigit Forsyth, who starred in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?, has died at the age of 83, her agent has confirmed.

Scottish actress Forsyth played battleaxe Thelma Ferris, the long suffering girlfriend and then wife of Rodney Bewes’ character Bob, in the cult 70s BBC sitcom.

Her agent Mark Pemberton confirmed she died “peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family” in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Edinburgh-born star, who trained at RADA, was married for many years to TV director Brian Mills.

A talented musician, she played the cello and sang while her acting career also included appearances in Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Playing the Field and Still Open All Hours.

But she will best remembered for her role in the hugely popular 1970s sitcom which was a follow-up to the 1960s hit The Likely Lads.

Set in the northeast, it followed the misadventures of childhood friends Bob and Terry as their adult lives took them in different directions with Terry and Thelmas often at each other's throats over the much-harrassed Bob.

It made stars of Bewes and James Bolam who played the two men.

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

She also appeared on stage in the West End and the National Theatre and founded her theatre company in 2016, while regularly appearing in Radio 4 plays.