Summer Wine star Staff dies at 80

chris

Actress Kathy Staff, who played Nora Batty in long-running BBC One sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine, has died.

The 80-year-old, who was born in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, also played cleaner Doris Luke in long-running ITV soap Crossroads.

And she appeared in Emmerdale Farm, Coronation Street, and with David Jason and Ronnie Barker in Open All Hours.

Last of the Summer Wine producer Alan Bell told BBC News the actress had been ill for some time.

"We're distraught, but we have very fond memories of her," he said.

Battleaxe Nora Batty proved to be her most enduring character.

She appeared in 243 episodes of the Yorkshire-based comedy, beginning in the first episode in January 1973.

She made her last appearance in August, at the end of the show's 29th series.

Co-star Peter Sallis said he was "terribly upset" by the loss of an "irreplaceable" colleague.

"She dominated anything that she was in. You could stop acting when Kathy was there because she was going to do it all for you," he said.

"We don't know quite for sure whether we're going to do any more episodes, but if we do she's going to be terribly missed."

Sallis, who plays Cleggy in the series, joked: "Years and years ago David Frost interviewed her on television and all they seemed to talk about was her wrinkled stockings.

"I got hotter and hotter under the collar and thought, why can't they have something about how marvellous it is to work with Peter Sallis? But all we got was wrinkled stockings instead."

Mike Grady, who played Barry in the series, said: "She was blessed with a wonderful, quite formidable face, which I hope isn't disrespectful, but she knew it.

"What was good about her was that she was well aware of her work and what she could bring to a role.

"And she had that wonderful resonant voice, which was quite intimidating. She was actually a very sweet woman."

Mr Bell said she often yearned for her character to be more gentle.

"She would play a scene quite gently, and I'd say, 'But Kathy, you've got to harden up, because that's who we all love, the hard, tough Nora Batty.'

"And she said, 'Why can't I be just soft and gentle at times?' And I said, 'Maybe some time we will.'

"She was such a good lady, she was religious, she would never do anyone any harm.

"But above all that, she was thoroughly professional."

Peter Sallis said it had not yet been decided if Last of the Summer Wine would return for a 30th series.

"The BBC have been terribly loyal to us - with good reason because we're so popular," he said.

"I shouldn't say this, but I would be a bit surprised if we've done our last one."



Source:BBCNews

HB13DISH

RIP Kathy Staff.
You will be missed here also.

Topper

Indeed she will be sadly missed, I heard a story on the radio yesterday how she was a very unassuming celebrity who when attending her local church would afterwards go in the kitchen, put a pinny on and help to make tea and coffee for all the other congregants

War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left!

Formerly toppervte33h
whose six pack has turned into a keg

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Freddie Flintoff is back

chris

Long-running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine is to remain on the air, the BBC has said - contradicting claims made by its producer suggesting it was to end.

Producer Alan JW Bell was quoted in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner this week saying he had been told another series of the show would not be made.

According to the BBC, though, it "has not been decommissioned".

"There is a Christmas special about to go out, followed by a new series in the autumn," said a spokeswoman.

"The series after that will be commissioned once the new series is on air."

'Gutted'

The news follows the recent death of actress Kathy Staff, who played battleaxe Nora Batty in 243 episodes of the Yorkshire-based comedy.

Brian Wilde, who played pompous ex-army corporal Walter "Foggy" Dewhurst in the show, died in March at the age of 80.

"Millions still enjoy the series and the actors love being involved," Bell was quoted as saying by the Huddersfield paper.

"Russ Abbott has just joined us and would have become the main character. When I broke the news to him he said: 'I'm gutted'."

Filmed in and around the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth, Last of the Summer Wine made its debut on the BBC in 1973.

Bell has been involved with the show since 1981, receiving Bafta nominations on its behalf in 1983 and 1986.

Source:BBC