Open All Hours, Eastenders, Doctor Who and Yentl actress Lynda Baron has died aged 82 with fans paying tribute as they recalled her much loved characters.
Lynda - who was born on March 24, 1939 - was best known as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the hit BBC sitcom Open All Hours and she acted opposite Sir David Jason and Ronnie Barker for four series from 1976.
She also famously played Aunt Mabel in Come Outside, and Linda Clarke, Jane Beale's mum, as well as appearing in Doctor Who, Last Of The Summer Wine and Dinner Ladies.
Her friend and agent Donna French who represented her for nearly 30 years 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.
Lynda was born Lilian Baron and her career began in the 1950s when she trained with Royal Academy of Dance.
She also starred in the ITV sitcom Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt as well as Coronation Street and Crossroad and her roles in Carry Ons and working with Barbra Streisand in Yentl will be remembered by fans.
Lynda married John M Lee in 1966 and had two children, Sarah and Morgan.
She 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."
Fans paid tribute to her online with one writing: RIP Lynda Barron. Always Nurse Gladys and Aunty Mable for me
Another added: "RIP Lynda Barron. Another small part of my childhood gone."
And a third said: "What a fine actress. RIP."
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