Diane Langton obit

Only Fools and Horses star and soap legend Diane Langton dies aged 77

 

She was not on the list.

She was best known for playing Marlene 'Nana' McQueen in Hollyoaks for 18 years, having first joined in 2007.

Langton left after two years before going on to reprise the role again in 2012.

The actress also appeared in EastEnders as Bev Williams and Heartbeat as Ruby Rowan.

During the '80s, she starred in Only Fools and Horses as Del Boy's love interest, June Snell.

"I am sad to say that Diane Langton passed away this morning," her agent, Shane Collins, said.

"Diane had a rich and remarkable career appearing on stage, in films, and on television, including playing the iconic Nana McQueen in Hollyoaks from 2007 to the present day."

He added: "Diane trained at the Corona Academy and started her professional career as a dancer, touring with ballet companies throughout Europe, followed by appearances on That Was the Week That Was and The London Palladium."

The actress had a career spanning more than 60 years, with her first credit being for a small role as a schoolgirl in Carry On Teacher.

She went on to appear in Carry On Laughing - the TV spin-off of the film series.

Langton also starred in several West End shows, including Hair, Billy Elliot, A Chorus Line and Chicago.

Other shows she appeared in included Jesus Christ Superstar and Mary Poppins.

When previously asked about her passion for theatre, she said: "I’m compulsed! I know there’s no such word, but that describes what I am.

"My son says to me, 'Why don’t you retire?' and I say, 'To what?' I would go insane. When I don’t work, I’m a nightmare after two weeks."

Writer

Rock Follies of '77 (1977)

Rock Follies of '77

7.5

TV Series

original idea (as the Rock Bottom Group)

1977

6 episodes

 

Rock Follies (1976)

Rock Follies

7.6

TV Mini Series

original idea (as the Rock Bottom Group)

1976

12 episodes

 

Actress

Hollyoaks (1995)

Hollyoaks

4.6

TV Series

Nana McQueen

2007–2023

388 episodes

 

Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes in Ashes to Ashes (2008)

Ashes to Ashes

8.1

TV Series

Julia

2009

1 episode

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.6

TV Series

Cynthia Albury

Josie Rogers

2003–2008

2 episodes

 

Jim Sturgess, Max Wrottesley, and Greg Faulkner in The Final Quest (2004)

The Final Quest

8.2

TV Movie

Marian Snr

2004

 

Guy Henry in Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Nina Cocozza

2001

1 episode

 

Brian Downey, Michael McManus, and Xenia Seeberg in Lexx (1996)

Lexx

7.3

TV Series

Hammer (as Diane Langfon)

2000

1 episode

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

Bev Williams

1998–1999

4 episodes

 

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.9

TV Series

Ruby Rowan

1995–1997

6 episodes

 

How to Be a Little Sod (1995)

How to Be a Little Sod

8.1

TV Series

Grandmother

1995–1996

7 episodes

 

Robert Bathurst and Fiona Gillies in Joking Apart (1991)

Joking Apart

8.3

TV Series

Prostitute

1995

1 episode

 

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, and Delia Swan in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Marion Draper

1993

1 episode

 

The Les Dennis Laughter Show (1987)

The Les Dennis Laughter Show

3.7

TV Series

1990–1991

2 episodes

 

Mr & Mrs Edgehill (1985)

Tonight at 8.30

7.3

TV Series

Beryl Waters

1991

1 episode

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.4

TV Series

Sylvia Clayborough

1990

1 episode

 

John Nettles in Bergerac (1981)

Bergerac

6.9

TV Series

Dawn Gray

1990

1 episode

 

James Hazeldine and Amanda Redman in Streets Apart (1988)

Streets Apart

6.7

TV Series

Rene

1989

4 episodes

 

Helen Mirren in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

7.5

May Fitch

1989

 

Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith in Alas Smith & Jones (1984)

Alas Smith & Jones

7.4

TV Series

Mum

1987

1 episode

 

David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, and Lennard Pearce in Only Fools and Horses (1981)

Only Fools and Horses

9.0

TV Series

June Snell

1985–1986

2 episodes

 

Barry Cryer in The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog (1983)

The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog

8.3

TV Series

1983

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Rita

1982

1 episode

 

The End of the End of the Pier Show

TV Movie

Mrs. Channing

1981

 

She Loves Me (1979)

She Loves Me

8.2

TV Movie

Ilona Ritter

1979

 

Peter Jones and Miriam Karlin in The Rag Trade (1975)

The Rag Trade

6.8

TV Series

Kathy

Kathy Roberts

1975–1978

23 episodes

 

Carry on England (1976)

Carry on England

4.0

Private Alice Easy

1976

 

A Dirty Knight's Work (1976)

A Dirty Knight's Work

5.2

Ruby

1976

 

Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975)

Confessions of a Pop Performer

4.4

Ruby Climax

1975

 

Carry on Laughing (1975)

Carry on Laughing

5.9

TV Series

Isolde

Griselda

Tzana

1975

3 episodes

 

Eskimo Nell (1975)

Eskimo Nell

4.4

Gladys Armitage

1975

 

It's Not the Size That Counts (1974)

It's Not the Size That Counts

3.7

Maureen Sugden

1974

 

Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1974)

Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!

4.6

Angie

1974

 

Diana Dors in Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973)

Steptoe and Son Ride Again

6.7

Funeral Guest (uncredited)

1973

 

Carry on Teacher (1959)

Carry on Teacher

6.2

Schoolgirl (uncredited)

1959

 

Soundtrack

She Loves Me (1979)

She Loves Me

8.2

TV Movie

performer: "Good Morning, Good Day", "Sounds While Selling/Thank You, Madam", "I Don't Know His Name", "I Resolve", "A Trip to the Library"

1979

 

Self

The Best of the Royal Variety (2006)

The Best of the Royal Variety

7.3

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Anne Robinson in The Weakest Link (2000)

The Weakest Link

5.6

TV Series

Self

2002

1 episode

 

A Royal Gala

TV Special

Self

1989

 

Saturday Night Out (1988)

Saturday Night Out

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

Michael Aspel in This Is Your Life (1955)

This Is Your Life

6.5

TV Series

Self

1985

1 episode

 

Saturday Night Affairs

TV Series

Self - Guest

1984

1 episode

 

Punchlines (1981)

Punchlines

5.8

TV Series

Self

1983

1 episode

 

The Royal Variety Performance 1982 (1982)

The Royal Variety Performance 1982

4.4

TV Special

Self

1982

 

Starburst (1980)

Starburst

TV Series

Self

1982

1 episode

 

Terry Wogan in Blankety Blank (1978)

Blankety Blank

6.3

TV Series

Self

1979

1 episode

 

Ted on the Spot

TV Movie

Self

1979

 

The Royal Variety Performance 1978

TV Special

Self

1978

 

Song by Song (1977)

Song by Song

8.2

TV Series

Self - Music Performer

1978

1 episode

 

It's a Knockout (1966)

It's a Knockout

7.8

TV Series

Self

1978

1 episode

 

Golden Gala

TV Special

Self

1978

 

Bob Monkhouse in Celebrity Squares (1975)

Celebrity Squares

5.5

TV Series

Self

1978

1 episode

 

Nationwide (1969)

Nationwide

6.9

TV Series

Self (as Rock Bottom)

1974

1 episode

 

Hair

1968

 

Archive Footage

Heartbeat Chronicles (1999)

Heartbeat Chronicles

7.5

Video

Ruby Rowan (archive footage, uncredited)

1999

 

What a Carry On (1983)

What a Carry On

6.6

TV Series

Private Alice Easy (archive footage)

1984–1986

8 episodes

Filmography

Television and film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1959    Carry On Teacher            Schoolgirl        Film; uncredited

1974    Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!            Angie            Film

1974    Percy's Progress            Maureen Sugden            Film

1975    Carry On Laughing            Tzana; Griselda; Isolde            3 episodes

1975    Eskimo Nell      Gladys Armitage            Film

1975            Confessions of a Pop Performer            Ruby Climax  Film

1975, 1977–1978    The Rag Trade            Kathy            Main role

1976    Trial by Combat            Ruby            Film

1976    Carry On England            Private Alice Easy            Film

1979    She Loves Me            Ilona Ritter            Television film

1981    The End of the End of the Pier Show   Mrs. Channing            Television film

1982    Minder            Rita            Episode: "In"

1985–1986            Only Fools and Horses June Snell            Episodes: "Happy Returns" and "A Royal Flush"

1987    Alas Smith and Jones    Mum            Episode: "The Homemade Xmas Video"

1989    Streets Apart   Rene            4 episodes

1989    The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover            May Fitch     Film

1990            Bergerac          Dawn Gray            Episode: "All the Sad Songs"

1990–1991            The Les Dennis Laughter Show            Unknown        3 episodes

1990    Boon            Sylvia Clayborough            Episode: "Rival Eyes"

1991    Tonight at 8.30 Beryl Waters            Episode: "Still Life"

1993    The Bill            Marion Draper            Episode: "Having What It Takes"

1995    Joking Apart            Prostitute            Episode #2.3

1995–1997            Heartbeat        Ruby Rowan 6 episodes

1995–1996            How to Be a Little Sod            Grandmother  7 episodes

1998–1999            EastEnders      Bev Williams            Recurring role

2000    Lexx            Hammer            Episode: "Girltown"

2001    Holby City      Nina Cocozza            Episode: "New Beginnings"

2003, 2008            Doctors           Josie Rogers / Cynthia Albury            2 episodes

2004    The Final Quest            Marian Snr            Television film

2007–2009, 2012–2024            Hollyoaks         Nana McQueen            Regular role

2009    Ashes to Ashes            Julia            Episode #2.1

2020            Hollyoaks Later            Nana McQueen            2020 special

Sources: [10][11][18]

Stage

Year     Title            Role            Venue

1968–1973            Hair            —            Shaftesbury Theatre

1972    Jesus Christ Superstar            Ensemble          —

1973–1974            Pippin            Fastrada          His Majesty's Theatre, London

1973    Two Gentlemen of Verona            Ensemble          —

1975–1976            A Little Night Music            Petra            Adelphi Theatre

1976    A Chorus Line            Diana            Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

1976    T.Zee            Princess La      Royal Court Theatre

1978    She Loves Me            Ilona Ritter    —

1979–1980            Songbook            Performer      Gielgud Theatre

1980    I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road    Heather Jones    Apollo Theatre

1981–1983            Windy City      Heather Jones    Bristol Hippodrome

Victoria Palace Theatre

1984–1987            Stepping Out    Sylvia            —

1986    Side by Side by Sondheim            Performer      —

1988    The Rink     Angel            Cambridge Theatre

1988    Sunday with Sondheim            Herself            Shaftesbury Theatre

1992–1993            The Comedy of Errors            Courtesan         Various

1994    Johnny On a Spot            Pearl LaMonte            Royal National Theatre

1994    Sweet Bird of Youth            Miss Lucy     Royal National Theatre

1996    Cats            Grizabella         Various

1997            Steaming          Violet            Piccadilly Theatre

1998            Chicago          Matron "Mama" Morton —

2002            Steaming            Carlotta Campion            Royal Festival Hall

2004    The Rink     Anna            Belgrade Theatre

2010–2011            Billy Elliot            Grandma