LEGEND GONE
Doreen Mantle dead aged 97: Coronation Street and Father Brown star dies ‘peacefully’ at home as tributes pour in
CORONATION Street star Doreen Mantle has died aged 97.
The actress was best known for her performance as Jean Warboys in the BBC comedy series One Foot In The Grave.
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She also starred in the detective series Father Brown and played Joy Fishwick in Coronation Street.
In a statement, her agent said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage, screen, and radio actress Doreen Mantle, aged 97.
“She died peacefully at home. She is survived by her two sons, four grandchildren and one brother.”
Her other credits include My Family, Doctors, Dirk Gently, Jam And Jerusalem, Doc Martin, Jonathan Creek and Yentl.
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Mantle also took the stage in Death Of A Salesman for the National Theatre, for which she won an Olivier Award in 1979 for actress of the year in a supporting role.
She also featured in her one woman show My Truth and Reconciliation, and appeared in 84 Charing Cross Road at The Ambassadors Theatre and classic comedy Billy Liar at the Duke of York's Theatre.
David Renwick - who wrote One Foot In The Grave - said he is "dreadfully saddened" by her death.
He said in a statement: "She had been in poor health for some time, but you wouldn't have bet against her soldiering on to a hundred - she was such a trouper, so stoic and resilient to the end.
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"No-one else could have played Mrs Warboys as she did, it was such a perfect fit, and the honesty that she brought to every line, however bizarre, was what made the character so funny and legitimised even the maddest of moments.
"There was never the remotest suggestion that she was playing comedy: in her hands it was all utterly real, because of course she was, at root, a superb and consummate actress. I shall miss her terribly - but thank God for all those wonderful laughs she's left us."
Fans rushed to pay tribute to a "comedy legend" who played Jean Warboys to "perfection".
One wrote: "So sad to hear Doreen Mantle has left us.
"Mrs Warboys was such an underrated character in One Foot In The Grave - in fact she’s my favourite sitcom character on TV - and Doreen played her to perfection, it’s a masterclass of comedic straight performances.
"She was so sweet too and fab on stage."
Another said: "Farewell to the lovely Doreen Mantle. A terrific actress and best known as Mrs Warboys."
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