Felicity Kendal, the last surviving main cast member of the beloved BBC sitcom The Good Life, has opened up about the emotional toll of outliving her co-stars. The actress, now 79, admitted that as she ages, her address book is getting smaller because so many of her close friends have passed away.
The Last One Standing
Kendal starred alongside Penelope Keith, Richard Briers, and Paul Eddington in the hit show, which ran for four series from 1975 to 1978. The sitcom followed Tom and Barbara Good (Briers and Kendal), a suburban couple who embrace self-sufficiency, much to the dismay of their snooty neighbours Margo (Keith) and Jerry (Eddington) Leadbetter.
Penelope Keith died last week at age 86 after a battle with cancer. Richard Briers passed away in 2013 at 79, and Paul Eddington died in 1995 at 68. Kendal is now the only one of the four leads still alive.
A Tight-Knit 'Family'
Reflecting on their bond, Kendal said: "On The Good Life, we were that close, we would go round to each other’s house in rotation, having dinner, on the Sundays we had off." She described the cast as "like a family" who laughed together constantly. "We had more humour than it was probably legal," she recalled.
Eddington's early death at 68 was a turning point. "That was the beginning of it. We didn't go to each other's house regularly any more because there was this gap," Kendal explained. "I think all three of us went into incredible depression... upset, I don't mean clinical depression. We were just heartbroken."
Grappling with Loss
When Briers died in 2013, Kendal said it was "another one" of the group. "So Penny and I were the two girls left, and you know, to me, I find it's a real leveller." Now, with Keith's death, Kendal is the sole survivor. "Suddenly there's no Penny and now I'm the sort of last one of the group which is a bit of a responsibility... well no it isn't," she mused.
Kendal praised Keith's private nature, noting that while she appreciated recognition and was "a funny, lovely woman and one brilliant cook," she never sought the spotlight on social media.
A Changing Address Book
Speaking to Go Explore Radio, Kendal said: "Two things happen. Your address book gets smaller... completely and utterly... not useless... but much smaller. The new one is a smaller version." She emphasised that losing friends has taught her to cherish life. "When you get over the grief of losing someone... the thing that you do is give yourself a bit of a nudge and say, 'Now look here, stop whinging about plumbing... because the sun is shining and guess what? You're here.'"
Kendal, who also starred in Rosemary and Thyme, The Mistress, and Doctor Who, and was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, lives by the mantra "Laugh and walk through." She urged others not to waste time: "I have seen a lot of people not living and I wish they had had longer. Don't waste it."
A Lasting Legacy
The Good Life remains a fondly remembered classic, with millions of viewers tuning in weekly to watch the Goods' self-sufficiency adventures. Kendal's reflections offer a poignant reminder of the show's enduring impact and the deep bonds formed among its cast.
