Dame Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life, dies aged 86

Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in the classic British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, has died aged 86. Her family announced her death on Monday, saying she "died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey" where she had lived for more than 50 years.

Keith became a household name through her portrayal of Margo Leadbetter, the snobbish suburban neighbour in The Good Life, which aired on the BBC from 1975. The role earned her a Bafta Award for best actress in 1977. She starred opposite Paul Eddington in the sitcom, which centred on a couple who abandoned urban life to live in the suburbs of London and became one of the classics of British television comedy.

Two years after The Good Life ended, Keith consolidated her career success by playing Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, a widowed aristocrat, in To the Manor Born. The sitcom proved equally popular, and the BBC produced a special episode in 2007.

Over a career that began in the late 1950s, Keith appeared in several other sitcoms and later fronted shows about her passion for the British countryside. She remained devoted to her theatre roots throughout her life, performing across the United Kingdom.

For her contribution to entertainment and charity work, Keith was made a dame in 2014 for her services to the arts and charities. She also received an Olivier Award and an OBE among other accolades.

Felicity Kendal, her co-star in The Good Life, paid tribute to Keith following her death. "I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope's death," Kendal said. "The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius. My heart goes out to her beloved" family. Kendal described Keith as "a joy to know and work with."

In their statement, Keith's family expressed gratitude for the care and support she received throughout her treatments and asked that their privacy be respected at this time.