Dame Penelope Keith dies aged 86

So sad to hear of the death today of actress Penelope Keith. She was 86. She starred in "The Good Life" (1975-78) and subsequently "To The Manor Born" (1979-81). The last episode of series 1 pulled the highest audience of the 70s (24 million) excluding live events. She'll be missed. #PenelopeKeith

The Ladybird Look. The ubiquitous headscarf over freshly set hair (And in memory of the late, great Penelope Keith) Artist-: Kenneth Inns (1967)

Awww funny the famous deaths that "get" you. For Gen X and older Penelope Keith was really part of the fabric of things though. And maybe she represents a fading part of Middle England that clung on to at least the idea of decency and generosity as part of its identity? Just incredible actor also.

Margo's - Look of disappointment Look of disdain Look of despair (at not getting jokes) Look of detachment Penelope Keith was a brilliant comic actor.

An episode of The Good Life will be shown on BBC Two this evening in tribute to Dame Penelope Keith.

RIP, Penelope Keith. You will be on our Christmas tree again this year, as always.

Penelope Keith as a leather-clad, motorbike-riding, lesbian au pair from Hamburg with a sideline in mud wrestling? Yes please.

The Good Life - Margo's Muddy Moment (1975) R.I.P Dame Penelope Keith 😇🙏

‘The Wind-Break War,’ the ep of The Good Life being shown in tribute to Penelope Keith tonight, is a MASTERPIECE. For one thing, there’s a whole page and a half of script just featuring the characters wishing each other ‘Good evening’. And for another… (1/2)

I wrote a few words about Penelope Keith, largely responsible for the most watched single TV episode of the 1970s. www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...

Penelope Keith did perfect drunk acting. She underplayed it and somehow that made her seem more drunk #TheGoodLife

Mrs Tim and I watched all episodes of The Good Life earlier this year. I don't care who knows it either, because it remains one of the all time great ensemble comedies, acutely written, and acted by stars who were at the absolute top of their respective games but admirably generous to each other.

I didn’t know Dame Penelope Keith, but I did deliver her newspapers back in the late 1980s. She gave me a £20 tip at Christmas, which was a LOT of money for an impoverished 14 year old. She also drove a ratty blue Ferrari Dino. All of which made her both classy and cool. RIP!

To remember Dame Penelope Keith, BBC2 will air a classic episode of The Good Life (The Windbreak War) at 7pm. All episodes of The Good Life and To The Manor Born are on BBC iPlayer. News story of Keith's death: www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/...

PERSON OF THE DAY. 29 June 2026. Penelope Keith died (aged 86). She’s best known for her roles in the popular 1970s BBC TV sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born. She went on to star in 6 other sitcoms including Executive Stress, No Job for a Lady and Next of Kin. She won 2 BAFTA awards.