One Foot In The Grave actress Doreen Mantle dies at 97

Star played ean Warboys in BBC sitcom

Doreen Mantle, who played Jean Warboys in One Foot In The Grave, has died aged 97.

As well as playing the annoying friend of Victor Meldrew's wife Margaret, the actress also also played Joy Fishwick in ITV soap Coronation Street and appeared in the likes of My Family, Dirk Gently, Jam And Jerusalem, Doc Martin and Jonathan Creek.

And on stage, She won an Olivier Award in 1979 for her role in Death Of A Salesman in the National Theatre.

In a statement, her agent said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage, screen, and radio actress Doreen Mantle, aged 97.

"She died peacefully at home. She is survived by her two sons, four grandchildren and one brother."

David Renwick, who wrote One Foot In The Grave, said: ‘She had been in poor health for some time, but you wouldn't have bet against her soldiering on to a hundred - she was such a trouper, so stoic and resilient to the end.

‘No one else could have played Mrs Warboys as she did, it was such a perfect fit, and the honesty that she brought to every line, however bizarre, was what made the character so funny and legitimised even the maddest of moments.

‘There was never the remotest suggestion that she was playing comedy: in her hands it was all utterly real, because of course she was, at root, a superb and consummate actress. I shall miss her terribly - but thank God for all those wonderful laughs she's left us.’