Una Stubbs obit

Una Stubbs: Till Death Us Do Part and Sherlock actress dies aged 84

 

She was not on the list.

Actress Una Stubbs, who appeared in some of the best-loved shows on British TV from the 1960s to the 2010s, has died at the age of 84.

She found fame in Cliff Richard's 1963 film Summer Holiday before starring in hit sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.

The actress went on to appear in shows like Worzel Gummidge, The Worst Witch, EastEnders and Sherlock.

Her agent paid tribute to her as "a wonderful actress" and "graceful, gracious and kind and constant friend".

After starting her career as a dancer, Stubbs became a fixture on the small screen in the 60s when she played Alf Garnett's exasperated daughter Rita in Till Death Us Do Part and the 1980s follow-ups 'Til Death and In Sickness and In Health.

She was also a regular on the game show Don't Say A Word and its follow-up Give us a Clue, and became a favourite of young audiences as Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge.

he starred in another children's hit, The Worst Witch, in the late 1990s, as well as playing Caroline Bishop in soap EastEnders and appearing in comedies The Catherine Tate Show and Benidorm.

Her last major role saw her play Sherlock's landlady Mrs Hudson in the BBC drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

'What a talent'

Sherlock creator Steven Moffat remembered Stubbs as "the loveliest light on Baker Street".

Writing on Instagram, he said: "What a woman, what a talent, what a star - and just about the kindest, nicest, funniest person you could meet.

"I don't know how anyone even starts summing up that career - Till Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, the incomparable Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge... and, of course, the irreplaceable heart and soul of Sherlock".

In a statement, Stubbs' sons Joe and Christian Henson and Jason Gilmore said: "Mum passed away quietly today with her family around her, in Edinburgh. We ask for privacy and understanding at this most difficult and sad of times."

Her agent Rebecca Blond, who represented Stubbs for more than 20 years, said she would "miss her enormously and remember her always".

The veteran actress had been ill for a few months, Blond told BBC News.

She said: "We are desperately sad to have lost not only a wonderful actress, whose screen and stage career, spanning over 50 years, was so extraordinarily varied, from Till Death Us Do Part to Sherlock, as well as memorable performances in the West End, at the Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Crucible and National Theatre, but also a wickedly funny, elegant, stylish, graceful, gracious and kind and constant friend.

"She was also a highly respected and exhibited artist."

Stubbs exhibited in the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, and her passion for art made her the perfect choice to co-host BBC One's The Big Painting Challenge in 2015.

Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth paid tribute, saying it was "a sad day".

He wrote: "Such a funny, lovely, gifted lady - a marvellous actress with a special style & a great (and impish) sense of humour."

Fellow dancer and actress Bonnie Langford said it was "such a loss".

She said: "She made everything look so effortless. A consummate professional, kind, gracious, elegant, versatile and fun. Her Aunt Sally was a masterclass alone."

Stubbs started her career at the age of 16 as a chorus girl at the London Palladium, and was the Dairy Box girl in TV chocolate adverts in the 1950s.

She auditioned for Summer Holiday as a dancer, but ended up being given one of the main roles. She had no formal acting training, saying: "I've been to the school of observation. I learned everything there."

She maintained a long career that saw her remain popular with successive generations. "Different age groups recognize me for different things," she said.

She starred on stage as well as screen, including in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night - which she described as her most challenging part - and in the original cast of the National Theatre adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

In her private life, Stubbs was married and divorced twice, to actors Peter Gilmore and Nicky Henson, and had three sons.

Film

Year       Title       Role

1963      Summer Holiday               Sandy

1964      The Bargee         Bridesmaid

(uncredited)

Wonderful Life Barbara

1965      Three Hats for Lisa           Flora

1967      Mister Ten Per Cent        Lady Dorothea

1969      Till Death Us Do Part       Rita

1973      Penny Gold         Anna

1974      Bedtime with Rosie         Rosie

2007      Angel     Miss Dawson

2016      Golden Years      Shirley

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1960      The Strange World of Gurney Slade          Vacuum Cleaner Girl / Girl in Park             2 episodes

1966–1975          Till Death Us Do Part       Rita        52 episodes

1970–1972          It's Cliff Richard!               Herself 33 episodes

1979      Fawlty Towers   Alice      Episode: "The Anniversary"

1979–1981          Worzel Gummidge          Aunt Sally            21 episodes

1979–1985          Give Us a Clue    Herself Multiple episodes

1981      Till Death...         Rita        6 episodes

1985–1986          In Sickness and in Health               Rita        9 episodes

1987–1989          Worzel Gummidge Down Under                Aunt Sally            11 episodes

1995      Keeping Up Appearances              Mrs Moody         Episode: "The Pageant"

1995, 1997          Heartbeat            Anthea Cowley 2 episodes

1996      Delta Wave         Gilly Pigeon        4 episodes

1998      Midsomer Murders         Selina Jennings Episode: "Written in Blood"

2000      Casualty               Joan Banville      Episode: “Not Waving but Drowning”

1998–2000          The Worst Witch              Miss Bat               25 episodes

2002      Queen & Country             Rita Rawlins        Episode: “Servant of the People”

2003      Born and Bred   Joy          Episode: “A Very Ormston Christmas”

2005–2007          The Catherine Tate Show              Carole-Ann, Ursula & Vi 4 episodes

2006      EastEnders          Caroline Bishop                 6 episodes

2006      Agatha Christie's Marple               Edith Pagett        Episode: "Sleeping Murder"

2007      Gina's Laughing Gear                      Episode: “Stairlift to Heaven”

2007–2009          Mist: Sheepdog Tales     Fern       23 episodes

2009      Benidorm            Diana Weedon Season 3 Episode 5

2009      Ingenious            Gransha              

2010–2017          Sherlock               Mrs. Hudson      13 episodes

2011      The Bleak Old shop of Stuff          Aunt Good Spelling          Episode: “Christmas Special”

2013      Who Do You Think You Are?        Herself Series 10, Episode 1

2013      Starlings               Molly     4 episodes

2013      Coming Up          Cynthia                 Episode: "Sink Or Swim"

2013      A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Tractate Middoth           Miss Chambers

2015      Midsomer Murders         Audrey Braylesford         Episode 17.1 "The Dagger Club"

2015      The Big Painting Challenge           Co-presenter, alongside Richard Bacon   Series 1

2015      Call The Midwife               Gert Mills            Episode #4.7

2017      The Durrells        Mrs Haddock      Series 2, Episode 4

2017      Murder on the Blackpool Express              Peggy    TV Movie