Actress Lynda Baron, best known for the BBC sitcom Open All Hours, has died at the age of 82, her agent has announced.
She starred opposite Sir David Jason and Ronnie Barker as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the hit BBC sitcom, which ran for four series starting in 1976.
A statement from her agent of nearly 30 years and close friend Donna French said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved client Lynda Baron.
“She was a wonderful actress and a great friend.
“Her iconic roles of Nurse Gladys in Open All Hours and Aunt Mabel in Come Outside were loved by all generations.
“Renowned for her leading roles in West End musicals and dramatic productions alike, we have lost a leading light of our world.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Sarah, her son Morgan and all her family.”
Tributes have been paid to the popular actress on social media.
She also appeared in the ITV sitcom Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt, BBC soap EastEnders as Linda Clarke, the mother of Jane Beale, and made appearances in Doctor Who, Last Of The Summer Wine and Dinner Ladies.
She was nominated for a Bafta in 2011 for her role in The Road To Coronation Street on BBC Four, a one-off drama about the early days of the soap, in which she played actress Violet Carson, who portrayed Ena Sharples in the long-running series.
She also appeared in the sequel Still Open All Hours when it returned in 2013.
The actress married John M Lee in 1966 and the couple went on to have two children, Sarah and Morgan.
She reflected on her fantastic career and told the Sunday Post in 2020: "I loved playing Nurse Gladys and Auntie Mabel but I couldn’t name my favourite of the different characters I have played.
"Partly that is because I am really the sort of person who prefers to look ahead and think about what I am doing now and, importantly, what I am going to do next.
"I have been an actress for a long time now and I hope to go on for quite a while yet. It is hard to imagine a life when I would not be an actress."
Many took to twitter to pay tribute.
One wrote: "What a fine actress. RIP."
Another tweeted: "I grew up watching her. What sad, sad news #RIPLynda."
