June Whitfield obit

Dame June Whitfield, star of Absolutely Fabulous, dies aged 93

 

She was not on the list.

Dame June Whitfield - celebrated for her comic roles in BBC sitcom Terry and June and cult favourite Absolutely Fabulous - has died aged 93.

The London-born actress was a regular fixture on TV and radio for six decades, starring in Carry On films, Hancock's Half Hour, and even Friends.

At 89, she appeared in EastEnders as Sister Ruth, a nun with a secret about Kat Moon. At 92, she was made a dame.

Her agent said she died peacefully on Friday night.

Tributes to her long and successful career in comedy are being made on Twitter.

Julia Sawalha, who played her strait-laced granddaughter in Absolutely Fabulous, said Whitfield had been a "great source of inspiration" to her as a young actress but was "far too humble to accept my adoration".

Fellow Ab Fab actress Joanna Lumley told ITV news she was "heartbroken to lose such a darling friend", who would "always have a most special place in my heart".

She said she would never forget "her sensational talent, humour and her generosity".

Jane Horrocks, who played the ditzy character Bubble in the comedy, said her former co-star was a "wonderful lady", who was "versatile, funny and generous".

Most of Whitfield's scenes during her three episodes on EastEnders were filmed opposite Jessie Wallace, who tweeted: "A truly great actress and comedy legend. Working with June was a masterclass."

Impressionist Rory Bremner called Whitfield the "go-to comedy actress for three generations".

TV producer Jon Plowman, who worked on Absolutely Fabulous, said there was "no-one with a better ability to just 'place' a line, always an act of utter precision".

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live he described working with Whitfield: "You would hand her a script, she would work out where the laughs were and then would very quietly wipe the floor with everybody else."

Whitfield played Miss Marple in 12 BBC Radio 4 adaptations of novels by Agatha Christie. She reprised the role in 2015, starring in three adaptations of Miss Marple short stories (Tape-Measure Murder, The Case of the Perfect Maid, and Sanctuary).

Comedian Miranda Hart recalls a touching encounter with Whitfield who responded to an appeal for sponsorship for Edinburgh Festival early on in her career.

And broadcaster Danny Baker said Whitfield was "formidable, dependable, inimitable. A rock. A gem."

Shane Allen, controller of BBC Comedy, described Whitfield as "the North Star of British comedy".

"Her spectacular career is unparalleled in its longevity, with seven decades of being a key element in numerous high profile and successful shows. She was the go-to female comedy performer of her generation and was always in demand from the cream of British comedy."

Among those clamouring to work with her were Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Ronnie Barker, Benny Hill, Bob Monkhouse and Tommy Cooper.

On Thursday, BBC Surrey broadcast what turned out to be her final interview, in which fellow showbusiness veteran David Hamilton visited Dame June at her home to talk about her life and career.

Often playing the female stooge to some of Britain's most famous entertainers, she called herself "a comic's tart".

But after six decades on radio and television, she established herself as a star in her own right.

The actress always said she was "very bad at getting round to things".

But from her early radio appearances in the 1950s, through to her scatty antics on Absolutely Fabulous, she featured in more than 1,300 radio and television shows.

 

Actress

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016)

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

5.4

Mother

2016

 

Boomers (2014)

Boomers

7.0

TV Series

Joan

2014–2016

4 episodes

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

Sister Ruth

2015–2016

3 episodes

 

Rob Lowe, Megan Mullally, Jenna Fischer, Joel Fry, Mathew Baynton, and Gaia Scodellaro in You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015)

You, Me and the Apocalypse

7.6

TV Mini Series

God

2015

1 episode

 

Samantha Morton in Cider with Rosie (2015)

Cider with Rosie

6.3

TV Movie

Granny Wallon

2015

 

Topsy and Tim (2013)

Topsy and Tim

6.3

TV Series

Mrs. Higley-Pigley

2014

2 episodes

 

Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek (1997)

Jonathan Creek

8.1

TV Series

Heidi & Laurel Greeley

2014

1 episode

 

Annette Badland, Neil Dudgeon, and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders (1997)

Midsomer Murders

7.9

TV Series

Molly Darnley

Peggy Alder

2005–2014

2 episodes

 

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders in Absolutely Fabulous (1992)

Absolutely Fabulous

8.2

TV Series

Mother

1992–2012

36 episodes

 

Danny Dyer, Denise Van Outen, and Sarah Harding in Run for Your Wife (2012)

Run for Your Wife

2.7

Exercising woman

2012

 

M.I.High (2007)

M.I.High

6.2

TV Series

Beryl Bagshot

2011

1 episode

 

Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, and Brian Wilde in Last of the Summer Wine (1973)

Last of the Summer Wine

7.1

TV Series

Nelly

Delphi

2001–2010

44 episodes

 

Peter Adamson, Jean Alexander, Johnny Briggs, Margot Bryant, and Doris Speed in Coronation Street (1960)

Coronation Street

5.6

TV Series

May Penn

2010

3 episodes

 

Bradley Walsh, Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who

8.6

TV Series

Minnie Hooper

2009–2010

2 episodes

 

Innocent

Granny Rose

2009

 

Stephen Fry in Kingdom (2007)

Kingdom

7.9

TV Series

Mrs. Earnshaw

2009

1 episode

 

John Challis and Sue Holderness in The Green Green Grass (2005)

The Green Green Grass

6.6

TV Series

Dora

2007–2009

4 episodes

 

Harley Street (2008)

Harley Street

6.1

TV Series

Betty

2008

1 episode

 

Bob the Builder (1997)

Bob the Builder

5.6

TV Series

Dot (UK)

Dot (UK & US) (voice)

2005–2007

7 episodes

 

Children in Need (1980)

Children in Need

5.9

TV Series

Chambermaid

2007

1 episode

 

Bob the Builder (1997)

Bob the Builder: Scrambler to the Rescue

7.8

Video

Dot (UK) (voice)

2007

 

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman, and Dennis Waterman in New Tricks (2003)

New Tricks

7.9

TV Series

Pru Sanders

2007

1 episode

 

Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie in Marple (2004)

Marple

7.8

TV Series

Mrs. Lancaster

2006

1 episode

 

Barry Jones, Stuart MacLeod, and Pete Firman in Dirty Tricks (2005)

Dirty Tricks

6.9

TV Series

Persian Cat (voice)

2005

1 episode

 

Absolutely Fabulous: Comic Relief Special (2005)

Absolutely Fabulous: Comic Relief Special

8.3

TV Movie

Mother

2005

 

The Royal (2003)

The Royal

7.5

TV Series

Esme

2005

1 episode

 

White Box

8.2

TV Movie

Mother

2004

 

Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot (2003)

Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot

7.2

TV Movie

Dot (UK) (voice)

2003

 

Peter Capaldi and Ray Quinn in The Afternoon Play (2003)

The Afternoon Play

7.5

TV Series

Iris Rourke

2003

1 episode

 

Paul McCartney in Rupert and the Frog Song (1984)

Tuesday

7.1

Short

(voice)

2001

 

The Cinder Path (1994)

The Secret

6.8

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Birkstead

2000

2 episodes

 

Mirrorball (2000)

Mirrorball

7.2

TV Movie

Dora Vermouth

2000

 

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000)

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

7.2

TV Movie

Annie

2000

 

The Timekeepers of the Millennium

TV Series

(1999)

1999

 

Faeries (1999)

Faeries

5.4

Mrs. Coombs (voice)

1999

 

Days Like These (1999)

Days Like These

2.6

TV Series

Grandma

1999

2 episodes

 

The Collection (1998)

The Collection

9.1

TV Mini Series

Mother

1998

 

Rex the Runt (1991)

Rex the Runt

7.9

TV Series

Judge Pikelet (voice)

1998

1 episode

 

The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge (1996)

The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge

8.2

TV Series

Mrs. Apple (voice)

1997–1998

2 episodes

 

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer in Friends (1994)

Friends

8.9

TV Series

The Housekeeper

1998

1 episode

 

All Rise for Julian Clary

6.5

TV Series

Auntie June

1997

7 episodes

 

Max Beesley and Samantha Morton in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1997)

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

7.7

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Whitfield

1997

1 episode

 

Out of Sight (1996)

Out of Sight

7.9

TV Series

Miss Stanbridge

1997

1 episode

 

Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Not!

9.0

Video

Mrs. June 'Gran' 'Mother' Monsoon

1997

 

Get Fit with Brittas

7.6

TV Series

June Whitfield

1997

1 episode

 

Wyrd Sisters (1997)

Wyrd Sisters

6.9

TV Mini Series

Nanny Ogg (voice)

1997

6 episodes

 

Family Money

6.6

TV Series

Ivy

1997

1 episode

 

Common as Muck (1994)

Common as Muck

8.0

TV Series

Irene

1997

2 episodes

 

Jude (1996)

Jude

6.9

Aunt Drusilla

1996

 

Noel's House Party (1991)

Noel's House Party

6.3

TV Series

Monica the Vicar's Wife

1992–1996

5 episodes

 

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992)

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends

8.4

TV Series

Mrs. Rabbit (voice)

1992

1 episode

 

Terry and Julian

6.5

TV Series

Mrs. Wilson

1992

1 episode

 

Carry on Columbus (1992)

Carry on Columbus

3.4

Queen Isabella of Castille

1992

 

The Craig Ferguson Story

8.2

TV Movie

Mrs. Ferguson

1991

 

Kate O'Mara, Ian Lavender, Derek Nimmo, David Robb, Joan Sims, and Toyah Willcox in Cluedo (1990)

Cluedo

6.5

TV Series

Mrs. Blance White

1990

6 episodes

 

Roland Rat: The Series (1985)

Roland Rat: The Series

6.7

TV Series

1988

6 episodes

 

It's a Hudd Hudd World

TV Movie

1987

 

Terry and June (1979)

Terry and June

6.4

TV Series

June Medford

1979–1987

65 episodes

 

The Sooty Show (1968)

The Sooty Show

7.1

TV Series

Aunty Gertrude

1985–1986

2 episodes

 

It's Going to Be Alright

TV Movie

Margie Hansen

1984

 

Rupert and the Frog Song (1984)

Rupert and the Frog Song

7.7

Short

Rupert's Mother (voice)

1984

 

Sharing Time

TV Series

April

1984

1 episode

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Mrs. Murdoch

1984

1 episode

 

Mike Yarwood in Persons (1976)

Mike Yarwood in Persons

6.8

TV Series

Margaret Thatcher

1981

1 episode

 

The Dick Emery Christmas Show: For Whom the Jingle Bells Toll

5.8

TV Movie

Colette

1980

 

It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974)

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

7.2

TV Series

Captain Georgina Tollemache

1980

1 episode

 

Bernie (1978)

Bernie

4.7

TV Series

1980

2 episodes

 

Morecambe and Wise at the BBC

TV Series

Various

1979

1 episode

 

Cannon and Ball (1979)

Cannon and Ball

6.3

TV Series

The Manageress

1979

1 episode

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.1

TV Series

Storyteller

1977–1979

12 episodes

 

Simon Adams, Leslie Phillips, Beth Porter, Victor Spinetti, Rachel Warren, Reg Williams, Susan Sokol, and Lisa Moss in The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1979)

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe

7.0

TV Movie

Mrs. Beaver (US version, voice)

1979

 

Happy Ever After (1974)

Happy Ever After

6.8

TV Series

June Fletcher

1974–1978

40 episodes

 

The Dick Emery Christmas Show: The Texas Connection

TV Special

Jacqueline Clayton

1977

 

Not Now, Comrade (1976)

Not Now, Comrade

4.9

Janet Rimmington

1976

 

John Cleese and John Barron in Awkward Customers (1975)

Awkward Customers

8.2

Video

Awkward Customer: Mrs. Rabbit

1975

 

Romance with a Double Bass (1975)

Romance with a Double Bass

7.2

Short

Prince Bibulov's wife

1975

 

Dick Emery in The Dick Emery Show (1963)

The Dick Emery Show

6.8

TV Series

Various Characters

Gillian Frobisher

Joyce

1969–1974

9 episodes

 

The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968)

The Morecambe & Wise Show

8.1

TV Series

Muriel

1974

1 episode

 

Susan Hampshire, Philip Latham, Donal McCann, Barbara Murray, and Bryan Pringle in The Pallisers (1974)

The Pallisers

8.2

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Bonteen

1974

3 episodes

 

Comedy Playhouse (1961)

Comedy Playhouse

7.5

TV Series

June Fletcher

Rose Garvey

Sandra Baxter

1962–1974

3 episodes

 

Scott On...

TV Series

Various Characters

1968–1974

25 episodes

 

Carry on Girls (1973)

Carry on Girls

5.7

Augusta Prodworthy

Paula Perkins (voice)

1973

 

Bless This House (1971)

Bless This House

6.9

TV Series

Odette

1973

1 episode

 

Whoops Baghdad! (1973)

Whoops Baghdad!

7.3

TV Series

Charisma

1973

1 episode

 

Carry on Abroad (1972)

Carry on Abroad

6.5

Evelyn Blunt

1972

 

Bless This House (1972)

Bless This House

6.2

Vera Baines

1972

 

A Tale of Two Microbes

Short

Desdemona Salmonella

1971

 

The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)

The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins

5.3

Mildred (segment "Envy")

1971

 

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Bill Oddie in The Goodies (1970)

The Goodies

7.7

TV Series

Penelope Fay

1971

1 episode

 

Do Me a Favour!

TV Movie

Mrs. Dolly Hadleigh

1971

 

Harry H. Corbett and June Whitfield in The Best Things in Life (1969)

The Best Things in Life

TV Series

Mabel Pollard

1969–1970

13 episodes

 

The Undertakers

Short

Housewife

1969

 

According to Dora

TV Series

Various

1969

1 episode

 

The Jimmy Logan Show

TV Series

1969

3 episodes

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.6

TV Series

Angela

1969

1 episode

 

June Whitfield in The Fossett Saga (1969)

The Fossett Saga

TV Series

Millie Goswick

1969

1 episode

 

Benny Hill in The Benny Hill Show (1955)

The Benny Hill Show

7.7

TV Series

Various Roles

1961–1968

4 episodes

 

Harry Worth in Harry Worth (1966)

Harry Worth

7.1

TV Series

Fiona Culpepper

1968

1 episode

 

Patrick Cargill, Noel Dyson, Ann Holloway, and Natasha Pyne in Father, Dear Father (1968)

Father, Dear Father

6.5

TV Series

Mrs. Parsons

1968

1 episode

 

Never a Cross Word

TV Series

1968

1 episode

 

Brian Rix Presents ... (1960)

Brian Rix Presents ...

TV Series

Gladys Cornthrop

1968

1 episode

 

Pat Coombs and Reg Varney in Beggar My Neighbour (1966)

Beggar My Neighbour

5.7

TV Series

Rose Garvey

1966–1968

24 episodes

 

Benny Hill in A Christmas Night with the Stars (1958)

A Christmas Night with the Stars

5.9

TV Series

Rose Garvey

Eth - with Jimmy Edwards

1962–1967

2 episodes

 

Hancock's (1967)

Hancock's

7.8

TV Series

Esmerelda Stavely-Smythe

1967

6 episodes

 

Life with Cooper (1966)

Life with Cooper

TV Series

1967

1 episode

 

The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966)

The Spy with a Cold Nose

5.6

Elsie Farquhar

1966

 

Mild and Bitter

TV Series

Various Roles

1966

6 episodes

 

Frankie Howerd in Frankie Howerd (1964)

Frankie Howerd

8.0

TV Series

Beryl Cuttlebunt

1966

1 episode

 

Six of the Best

TV Series

Daffodil

1965

1 episode

 

Call It What You Like

TV Series

Various Roles

1965

6 episodes

 

The Big Noise

TV Series

Dorothy Tozer

1964

1 episode

 

Baxter On...

TV Series

Various Roles

1964

6 episodes

 

A Child's Guide to Screenwriting

TV Movie

Various (voice)

1964

 

How to Be an Alien

TV Series

(voice)

1964

6 episodes

 

Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett in Steptoe and Son (1962)

Steptoe and Son

7.8

TV Series

Madge

1964

1 episode

 

More Faces of Jim

TV Series

Madame Soo

Nadia

Sophia Desire ...

1963

6 episodes

 

Hotel Paradiso

TV Movie

Marcelle

1962

 

Six More Faces of Jim

TV Series

Eth

1962

6 episodes

 

Peter Jones and Miriam Karlin in The Rag Trade (1961)

The Rag Trade

7.3

TV Series

Miss Rawlins

1962

1 episode

 

Benny Hill in Benny Hill (1962)

Benny Hill

7.6

TV Series

Aunt Mirabelle

Bride

1962

2 episodes

 

Ronnie Barker, Jimmy Edwards, and June Whitfield in The Seven Faces of Jim (1961)

The Seven Faces of Jim

TV Series

Julia Burke Adams

Hannah Pengallon

Sally ...

1961

7 episodes

 

Hancock (1961)

Hancock

8.5

TV Series

Veronica Stillwell

Nurse

1961

2 episodes

 

Double Bunk (1961)

Double Bunk

6.2

Eth (voice, uncredited)

1961

 

The Arthur Askey Show

TV Series

Emily Pilbeam

Emily Philbeam

1961

6 episodes

 

Arthur's Treasured Volumes

5.6

TV Series

Enid Brown

1960

1 episode

 

Friends and Neighbours (1959)

Friends and Neighbours

5.1

Doris Holmes

1959

 

It's Saturday Night

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Jimmy Edwards in Whack-O! (1956)

Whack-O!

7.7

TV Series

Edwina

Mrs. Van Stuyvesant

1958–1959

2 episodes

 

Carry on Nurse (1959)

Carry on Nurse

6.2

Meg

1959

 

Murder Bag (1957)

Murder Bag

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Alfie Bass, Bill Fraser, and William Hartnell in The Army Game (1957)

The Army Game

7.5

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

On with the Show

TV Series

1958

 

Arthur Askey and Sabrina in Before Your Very Eyes (1952)

Before Your Very Eyes

TV Series

Various Characters

1955–1958

6 episodes

 

My Pal Bob

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.7

TV Series

Marie

1958

1 episode

 

Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show!

TV Series

Various Characters

1957

6 episodes

 

Hancock's Half Hour (1956)

Hancock's Half Hour

8.5

TV Series

Miss Dubois

1957

1 episode

 

Norman Chappell and Tony Hancock in The Tony Hancock Show (1956)

The Tony Hancock Show

8.0

TV Series

Various Characters

1956–1957

11 episodes

 

The Straker Special

TV Movie

Mechanic

1956

 

Jack Hylton Presents

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d

TV Series

Various Characters

1956

6 episodes

 

Fast and Loose

TV Series

1954–1955

5 episodes

 

Love from Judy

TV Movie

Sally McBride

1953

 

The Passing Show

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

The 20 Questions Murder Mystery (1950)

The 20 Questions Murder Mystery

6.2

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

1950

 

Quiet Weekend (1946)

Quiet Weekend

6.4

Dancer (uncredited)

1946