Kirstie Allsopp has publicly criticised BAFTA over its tribute to Dame Penelope Keith, arguing the organisation should have said the actress had “died” rather than referring to her “passing”.
Dame Penelope Keith's Death Announced
Dame Penelope, one of Britain's most beloved sitcom stars, died “peacefully” at her Surrey home aged 86 after living with cancer, her family announced on Monday. The TV legend was best known for her iconic role as the socially ambitious, snobbish neighbour Margo Leadbetter in the hit 1970s BBC sitcom The Good Life and To The Manor Born.
In a post on X, BAFTA said it was “saddened to learn of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith”, before celebrating her award-winning career.
Allsopp's Sharp Response
The wording prompted a sharp response from Allsopp, who wrote: “It's 'death', Dame Penelope died, she was an absolute national treasure, she lived & worked and was brilliant and then she died. Dame Penelope did not ‘pass’, she was not a car or a bottle of ketchup.”
The TV presenter continued to defend her position as users challenged her in the replies, with some arguing that “passed” is a gentler, more compassionate way to refer to someone's death. One user wrote: “I think it is a choice of words that different people are comfortable with. You should use what you feel comfortable using and let others use what they prefer.”
Allsopp responded that, as an organisation, BAFTA should have reflected the language used by Dame Penelope's family. “BAFTA is an organisation not a person, and as Dame Penelope's family statement said she had died, they should have at least reflected their language,” she wrote.
Family Statement and Public Reaction
In announcing her death, Dame Penelope's family told The Standard: “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.” Adding: “The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
When another user suggested euphemisms such as “passing” were kinder, Allsopp disagreed, writing: “Many people who have mourned the death of people they loved find this type of euphemism very jarring indeed. They feel it takes away the impact of the event and turns it into a mere burp in the meal of life.”
Her comments found support from fellow broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson, who replied simply: “I loathe ‘passing’. Loathe it.”
The Standard has contacted BAFTA for comment.
