Jean Fergusson has died aged 74.
The ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ actress – who played outspoken Marina for 25 years on the long-running BBC show – has sadly passed away, and her fellow stars have been paying tribute on social media.
‘Allo Allo’ actress Vicki Michelle tweeted: "Shocked & saddened to hear Jean Fergusson has passed… Lovely lady, fabulous actress.
"Saw her Sunday at #SuPollard’s birthday, said she wasn’t feeling well. @benstockbiz and I planned to take her out next week. Can’t believe she’s gone. (sic)"
Close friend Nigel Ellacott also paid his respects to the former ‘Coronation Street’ star, who played Dorothy Hoyle on the ITV soap.
He added: "So very sad to hear that Jean Fergusson has passed. I’ve known Jean since I was fifteen from her Swansea Rep days – a wonderful actress, a glorious lady and a friend who will be sadly missed."
It is not yet clear how Jean died.
Jean also enjoyed a successful and acclaimed theatre career, and she was nominated for an Olivier Award in 1998 for her performance as British comic, actress and music hall star Hylda Baker.
Jean is best known for her role on ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, although she admitted a couple of years ago she became less comfortable with her character’s outfits.
Appearing on ‘Pointless Celebrities’ in 2017, she said: "Funnily enough more towards the end [of the series], I was always the one in the low-cut blouse and the mini skirt or the shorts.
"When I got – shall we say – a little bit older, it wasn’t quite the same getting all dressed up in the morning in a pair of little mini shorts and a very low-cut blouse. But we battled through. We got on the bike and off we went."
Last of the Summer Wine star Jean Fergusson dies aged 74
