Channel 5 has altered its schedule tonight (29 June) to air a new Penelope Keith documentary following the star’s death at the age of 86.
Keith, who was best known for starring in sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, passed away “peacefully” at her Surrey home, her family announced today.
In a change to scheduled programming following the sad news, a tribute to the actor – titled The Good Life: Farewell Penelope Keith – will be shown on Channel 5 at 6:30pm tonight.
Keith played the snobby suburbanite Margo Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom, and went on to win a BAFTA for Best Comedy Performer for the role.
The star was also known to audiences for playing the lead role of bereaved aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the hit comedy To the Manor Born, while other TV credits included Dixon of Dock Green and the military sitcom The Army Game.
The BBC has also changed its schedule tonight in honour of the star, with a classic episode from the third series of The Good Life set to be shown on BBC Two at 7pm.
Titled The Windbreak War, the episode follows Margo (Keith) as she sparks a row with her neighbours when she plans to have a new wind-break erected in her garden that would cast a shadow over their new fruit patch.
Announcing the news of her death, Keith’s family wrote 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,” her family said in a statement.
“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Read more:
- Radio Times remembers Penelope Keith with exclusive archive interview: “It’s very sad that ‘sitcom’ has become a pejorative term”
- Falling in the mud and following your dream… self-sufficiency sitcom The Good Life at 50
Among those who paid tribute to Keith following the news of her passing was director of BBC comedy Jon Petrie, who said: “All of us at BBC Comedy are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith. She was 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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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
