Brigitte Forsyth: The open-air actress dies at the age of 83

Actress Bridget Forsyth, best known for her appearances in TV sitcoms Whatever Happens to The Likely Lads and Still Open All Hours, has died at the age of 83.

Edinburgh-born Forsyth's early roles included the 1971 film The Night Digger, a thriller written by Roald Dahl.

Later that decade, she played Thelma in the comedy Whatever Happened to Likely Boys? And the movie The Possible Boy.

Her other credits included the television dramas “Play the Field” and “Boon.”

Her agent, Mark Pemberton, said that the actress died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, surrounded by her family.

Pemberton noted in a statement that she “had a varied and notable career in stage, screen and radio,” including roles in theaters “from the West End to the National Theaters of England and Scotland.”

She appeared on screen in the 1980s sitcom Tom, Dick and Harriet, Sharon and Elsie, and played a doctor in the ITV miniseries The Practice.

Later in life, she played Madge in Still Open All Hours, appearing in the BBC comedy from 2013 to 2019.

Pemberton added: “She has been involved in numerous BBC radio plays over the years and also appeared in Ed Reardon's Radio 4 sitcom The Week. A talented musician, Brigitte played the cello, sang and composed, and in later years played with several bands including In that vircon.”

He added that she “loved collaborating and helping to develop new works with actors, writers and directors,” and established the theater company “Word Mills Productions” in 2016.

Forsyth has also made television guest appearances in The Bill, Doctor Who, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Coronation Street, and was the subject of the biographical show This Is Your Life in 2002.