Felicity Kendal has paid tribute to her The Good Life co-star Dame Penelope Keith, describing her as a “comic genius” who was “a joy to know and work with”. The statement was released to the Press Association following the announcement of Keith’s death at the age of 86 on Monday.
Dame Penelope Keith was best known for her role as snobbish suburbanite Margo Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom The Good Life and as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born. She had been diagnosed with cancer.
Tribute from Felicity Kendal
In her statement, Kendal said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope’s death. The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius. My heart goes out to her beloved Rodney at this time, theirs was a great love story and partnership. She was a joy to know and work with, and she will be much missed.”
Family Statement and Early Career
Dame Penelope’s family said they were “deeply saddened” to announce that she had “died peacefully whilst living with cancer” at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years. The statement added: “The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Dame Penelope began her career on stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, but became a household name through her work in sitcoms. She won a Bafta in 1977 for her portrayal of Margo Leadbetter, a snobbish social climber who later reveals a heart of gold.
The Good Life and To The Manor Born
The Good Life followed Tom and Barbara Good, played by Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal, who attempt to escape the rat race by becoming self-sufficient in their suburban Surbiton home. Their efforts, including turning gardens into allotments and introducing farmyard animals, horrify their neighbours Margo and her husband Jerry. In the first episode, Keith’s character was heard but not seen, but her presence grew as the series progressed.
In To The Manor Born, Keith’s character Audrey is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after her husband’s death. She moves into the modest lodge house but retains her butler and Rolls-Royce, keeping an eye on the new owner, nouveau riche supermarket millionaire Richard DeVere, played by Peter Bowles.
Other Roles and Later Work
Keith also appeared in sitcoms Executive Stress, No Job For A Lady, and Next Of Kin, and won a Bafta for a TV adaptation of The Norman Conquests, a role she reprised after a stage run. She lent her voice to adverts, including Pimm’s, Lurpak, and notably the Parker Pen Company, which was named one of the 100 greatest adverts.
In later years, she returned to theatre, taking roles such as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest. She also presented factual programmes, including Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages, Penelope Keith’s Coastal Villages, and Penelope Keith At Her Majesty’s Service.
Personal Life and Honours
She married policeman Rodney Timson in 1978, and the couple adopted two sons. She was made a dame in 2014 for services to the arts and charity.
