Gavin And Stacey actress, Margaret John, has died aged 84 and tributes from her fans and co-stars, including James Corden, have flooded in.
Margaret John worked as a TV actress for 60 years but most recently became a cult figure for role as pensioner Doris in Gavin And Stacey.
According to her agent, Margaret John died in the early hours of Wednesday morning at a hospital in Swansea after suffering a short illness.
John’s Gavin And Stacey co-star James Corden paid tribute to the actress on Twitter, writing: “All my thoughts are with the family of Margaret John who played Doris in G and S. A great actress and an incredible lady. She will be missed x.”
BBC Cymru Wales director Menna Richards said John was “a true Welsh national treasure”.
“She found a whole new army of viewers with Gavin And Stacey,” Richards said.
John’s character Doris became a household name as Stacey’s, with Facebook groups dedicated to her. For the uninitiated, here’s a classic Doris moment:
Margaret John’s career did not begin with Gavin And Satcey – she also appeared in the long-running Welsh series High Hopes and the forthcoming HBO show Game Of Thrones.
John’s agent, Gemma McAvoy, said:
“Her career spanned 60 years and she did everything from film to television, radio and some amazing theatre roles.
“She used to say how she started playing lots of tragic roles and it was only later people recognised her great sense of humour.
“She had the most infectious love of life and an incredible sense of humour, and that is why people felt so warmly towards her.”
