Stephanie Cole dies aged 84

tvSep 18, 202628231

Actress Stephanie Cole has died aged 84, her family announced via agent John Grant. Cole had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years, the statement said. Born in Solihull and trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, she made her stage debut at 17 as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and enjoyed a long career across theatre, radio, film and television. She was perhaps best known for playing Dr Beatrice Mason in the 1980s BBC wartime drama Tenko and for comic turns as Diana Trent in Waiting for God, a role that won her best TV comedy actress, and as Mrs Delphine Featherstone in Open All Hours. Cole was also Carolyn Knapp-Shappey in the Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure and appeared in Coronation Street as Sylvia Goodwin, a part that earned her a British Soap Award in 2012. Her later credits included Still Open All Hours, Doc Martin, Gentleman Jack and a 2021 role opposite Greg Davies in the BBC comedy The Cleaner; she cited Alan Bennett’s Soldiering On and a West End production of A Passionate Woman among her proudest stage performances.

The Dobson Family and Colin the Dalek

@dobbersw.bsky.social

Oh, no! Stephanie Cole was superb in everything she was in, but her performance in Cabin Pressure was just sublime. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

272h ago

aabdab.bsky.social4

Cabin Pressure is probably what I would answer questions on on Mastermind! I would love to be Carolyn when I grow up! So sad to lose Carolyn and Herc in quick succession.

Jeremy Bartlett2

Cabin Pressure was her finest hour, I think. She was also gloriously grumpy in "Waiting for God", with Graham Crowden.

Jonathan Coe

@jonathancoe.bsky.social

One of the reasons I've largely given up on music/spoken word combinations is that actors often don't like them - they feel the music interferes with or inhibits their performance. But some years ago at Bath Festival Stephanie Cole brilliantly read extracts from my novel The Rain Before It Falls ...

223h ago

Plashing Vole

@plashingvole.bsky.social

What a good actor Stephanie Cole was. Odd to think that she was 48 when she started playing Diana Trent in Waiting for God - an old lady living in a retirement home. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

213h ago

Jason

@nickmotown.bsky.social

Obviously too many brilliant, laudable performances to mention, but her turn as Nesta in Man Down was just about as funny as it gets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

143h ago

David Benedict

@eggsbened.bsky.social

Alan Bennett wrote his Talking Heads monologues for only the most gifted, which is why Stephanie Cole did one. Happily, via mutual friends, I once found myself spending Boxing Day with her in her house in Frome. She was a complete hoot. Happily, we can forever listen to her in Cabin Pressure. RIP

153h ago

Gemma Arrowsmith

@mmaarrow.bsky.social

- so a lot of the time you’re a bit of a third wheel & people don’t know what to say to you. It can be a bit awkward. During a break Stephanie Cole made an absolute beeline for me & said “I just want to say, I think you’re doing a marvellous job and I really enjoyed reading that scene with you.”

162h ago

Stephen McBarron

@stevemc.bsky.social

Sad news about Stephanie Cole who I particular remember from Cabin Pressure - a rare 6.30 comedy that was actually funny #TheArchers #bbcpm

93h ago

John86

@john86l.bsky.social

With the sad news about Stephanie Cole this would be an excellent time for them to stick the complete A-Z of Cabin Pressure on Sounds. I invested in the CDs as it’s very much one of my comfort shows, but the more people have access to it the better the world will be.

72h ago

Richard V. Hirst

@richardvhirst.bsky.social

Stephanie Cole! Loved Waiting for God, loved Cabin Pressure, loved Soldiering On, but probably loved most of all that she was in one my favourite bits of recent-ish TV.

72h ago

Martyn Notman

@nfgmart.bsky.social

She was younger than me when "Waiting for God" started...😱 BBC News - Tenko and Coronation Street actress Stephanie Cole dies aged 84 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

103h ago

Davie1

and she was only 41 when she played the old widow in Open All Hours...

Phillip1

Just googled it. Same here (as was Rose in the Golden Girls). We could open a fabulous (almost) old people’s home. Could call it Blue Skies

Richard1

I realised yesterday that my dad was 43 when he used to pick me up roaring drunk and take me home for school the next day. 43!!!

Matt Green

@mattgreencomedy.com

Also sad to hear that Stephanie Cole has died. A true legend of British comedy acting. I was lucky enough to work with her on an episode of Cabin Pressure (with Alison Steadman as well!) and she was a total pro and delightful backstage. RIP.

71h ago

The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦🇬🇱

@theunhurriedreader.bsky.social

This year’s not getting any better. Stephanie Cole, rest in peace.

72h ago

Paul Frame

@paulframe85.bsky.social

"Look, this is a very safe aircraft. I have a good pilot, and a safe pilot; and the safe pilot’s in charge of the good pilot. Martin won’t let them get into trouble; and if they do, Douglas would get them out of it." RIP Stephanie Cole.

63h ago