Beloved Keeping Up Appearances star dies aged 91

An actress found her biggest success in her 60s by starring in one of the funniest British sitcoms of the 1990s has died today.

British sitcom actress Josephine Tewson has died, her agent announced today.

The star, best-known for her role in Keeping Up Appearances, was 91.

Tewson was a star of both stage and the small screen.

However, her role as Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Warden – the long-suffering neighbour of Hyacinth Bucket, played by Patricia Routledge – catapulted her into British TV stardom and made her a household name.

Hyacinth (Patricia Routledge, left) and Elizabeth (Tewson, right) were a perfectly matched comedy duo.

She appeared on almost every episode for the five-series run.

The actress was also a hugely popular face on a range of other comedy series.

She played Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine and Edna Hawkins in Shelley.

Tewson was also a regular performer in sketches featuring Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker on David Frost on Sunday and Hark at Barker.

She also appeared in BBC Radio Comedy program Mostly Monkhouse with David Jason.

In 1988, she teamed up with Ronnie Barker again to play Jane Travers in his sitcom Clarence.

It was to be his last starring television role before his retirement.

The jittery Liz Warden was forever spilling her tea.

In an interview in 2008, she told The Independent the role was one of her biggest professional surprises.

“If you’re Julia Roberts or Judi Dench you expect people to write parts for you, but not little old me,” she joked.

Tewson worked until 2019 on her own one-woman show, Still Keeping Up Appearances?

Her agent, Jean Diamond of Diamond Management, said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm the passing of Josephine Tewson.

“Josephine passed away peacefully last night at Denville Hall at the age of 91.”

Denville Hall, in Hillingdon, London, is a retirement home for professional actors.

Tributes to the star have already begun pouring in.

One fan wrote on social media: “She’s shaken her last teacup in Hyacinth’s kitchen. RIP Josephine Tewson.”

Carol Challis, the wife of late Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, added: “Farewell to Josephine Tewson.

“John loved working with her on Last of the Summer Wine. Another one gone.”

Tewson was born in London to William, a professional musician who played the double bass in the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Kate, a nurse.

Tewson said she never expected to land such a good role in her 60s.

Her grandfather was Haydn Morley, who captained Sheffield Wednesday in the 1890 FA Cup Final.

She was married to Rising Damp actor Leonard Rossiter before their divorce in the 60s, and later wed Henry Newman in the 70s. He died in 1980.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.