Gwyneth Powell obit

Grange Hill actress Gwyneth Powell dies aged 76

 

She was not on the list.

Actress Gwyneth Powell, who appeared in the BBC series Grange Hill, has died at the age of 76, her agent has said.

Powell was best known for playing headmistress Bridget McClusky between 1981 and 1991 and also appeared in Channel 4 comedy show Man Down.

Her representative Matthew Lacey said in a statement on behalf of the family that the actress died “after complications following a major operation for a perforated colon”

She died last Thursday in Brighton and the statement added: “She passed away peacefully, with her husband (Alan Leith) and niece at her bedside.

“Gwyneth will be greatly missed by her adoring family and friends along with her many fans from multiple TV appearances.”

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education: “We are very sorry to hear of the passing of Gwyneth Powell.

“Her famous portrayal of Mrs McClusky is one that will be fondly remembered by all those that grew up watching Grange Hill.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”

Powell was born in Manchester on July 5 1946 and landed her first major television role in the 1971 London Weekend Television dystopian drama series The Guardians.

Although she secured regular work and appeared in a series of TV dramas, her career accelerated after being cast in the children’s series Grange Hill, about life in a comprehensive school.

She played the tough but fair headmistress Bridget McClusky for a decade until requesting she was written out so she could pursue other roles.

Her other credits included Heartbeat, Holby City and Father Brown, and in 2013 she was cast as the mother of Welsh comic Greg Davies’ character in Channel 4 comedy Man Down.

Powell was married to fellow actor Alan Leith.

 

Filmography

2022    Grace            Joan Talbot  1 episode            Ref.

1969    Rogues' Gallery Second Lady    1 episode            [14][15][16]

1971    The Guardians            Clare Weston            11 episodes

1972    Villains            Belinda            2 episodes

1972    Z Cars            Jean Knight  1 episode

1972    Rest assured: Lift Off       Mrs Johnson            TV film

1973    Putting on the Agony            Gill            TV film

1973    ITV Sunday Knight Theatre Willy   

1974    A Raging Calm            Agnes Sutton  TV mini series, 4 episodes

1974    Father Brown  Helen Smaill   1 episode

1975    Play for Today  Elvira Lewis   1 episode

1975    Public Eye      Clare            1 episode

1975    Beryl's Lot       Anita            2 episodes

1976            Couples           Lynn Baker   TV series, 6 episodes

1972–1976            Dixon of Dock Green            Val Colebrook (1972), Mrs Regan (1972), Anne Hastings (1973), Diane Barnet (1979), Jane Mason (1976)  TV series, 5 episodes

1976    Face of Darkness            Eileen  

1976            Coronation Street            Diana Kenton 3 episodes

1976            Emmerdale      Julie Croft    Guest role

1978    ITV Playhouse            Doreen            1 episode

1978    People Like Us            Frances Hopkins            5 episodes

1978            Accident         Betty Richards            3 episodes

1978–1980            Armchair Thriller            Woman PC (1978), Doris (1980)            6 episodes

1980    The Enigma Files            Anne Gerrard            1 episode

1980    Can We Get on Now, Please?               1 episode

1978            Loophole          Doreen

1982            Squadron            Margaret Gran 4 episodes

1982, 1984            The Gentle Touch            DI Mary Woods            2 episodes

1986    Chance in a Million            Maureen          1 episode

1980–1991            Grange Hill       Mrs McClusky            169 episodes

1994    Open Fire      Gloria Martin  TV film

1996    Hetty Wainthropp Investigates            Marian Horner 1 episode

1997    A Touch of Frost            Kitty Rayford            3 episodes

1998    Magic with Everything            Aunt Matilda TV series

1998, 2002            Peak Practice            Annie Gibson (1998), Rose Meredith (2002)  2 episodes

1999    A Kind of Hush            Mrs P. 

2001, 2006            Holby City      Jean (2001), Margaret Tanner (2006)            2 episodes

2001    Back to the Secret Garden Toby the Maid            Film

2003    Family Affairs  Judge Yardley            1 episode

2003, 2006            Doctors           Janet Armstrong (2003), Janice Wilson (2006)            Guest roles

2004    Down to Earth            Mrs Dean    1 episode

2004, 2009            Heartbeat        Shirley Baxter (2004), Margaret Millwood (2009)  2 episodes

2004    The Royal   Bunty Weatherill            1 episode

2005            Emmerdale      Sophie Kidderminster            Guest role

2007            Piccadilly Cowboy            Alice   

2008    Echo Beach   Ivy Trehearne            11 episodes

2009    Ashes to Ashes            Mrs McClusky            1 episode, archive footage with newly recorded audio from Powell.

2010    The Gemma Factor            Nana            6 episodes

2011    Little Crackers            Headmistress    1 episode

2012    House of Anubis            Nina's Grandmother            7 episodes

2013    The Matt Lucas Awards            Herself            1 episode

2013    A Touch of Cloth            Mrs McClusky            1 episode

2013–2017            Man Down   Polly Davies  19 episodes

2014            Casualty          Gloria Pots     1 episode

2022    Not Going Out            Nice lady      1 episode