Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? star Brigit Forsyth dies at 83

Brigit Forsyth, who starred in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, has died at the age of 83, her agent has confirmed.

The Scottish actor played Thelma Ferris, the long-suffering wife of Rodney Bewes’ character, Bob, in the 70s BBC sitcom. She died “peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family” in the early hours of Friday morning, her agent, Mark Pemberton, confirmed.

“Brigit had a varied and notable career in stage, screen and radio. Best known for her roles in television as Thelma in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Francine Pratt in Playing the Field and Madge in Still Open All Hours,” a statement said.

“Brigit also played multiple roles in theatre from the West End to the National Theatres of England and Scotland, and the great reps of Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, playing everything from the Queen in Single Spies, to Kate in All My Sons.

Forsyth as Ernestine Todd with David Suchet as Poirot. Photograph: Shutterstock

“She was in many radio plays on the BBC over the years and also featured in the Radio 4 sitcom Ed Reardon’s Week. A talented musician, Brigit played the cello, sang and composed, and in later years played with several bands including the Fircones.

“Brigit loved collaboration and helping to develop new works with actors, writers and directors, which eventually led her to form her own cross-disciplinary theatre company, Word Mills Productions, in 2016.”

When the Likely Lads finished, Forsyth found herself in demand for roles in a number of television productions, including Poirot and Casualty, and she appeared in Coronation Street as one of Ken Barlow’s escort clients.

The actress also won plaudits for her stage roles, which included The Glass Menagerie.

In 2000, she returned to screens as the social climbing snob Francine Pratt, the wife of businessman Jim Pratt, played by Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, in the BBC’s footballing drama Playing the Field.

Her husband was Coronation Street director Brian Mills, who died in 2006.