Figure caption, Penelope Keith on The Good Life: 'I only had one line in the very first episode'
Tributes have been paid to actress Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, following her death at the age of 86.
In a statement, her family said on Monday that she "died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey".
Felicity Kendal, her co-star in The Good Life, remembered her as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with".
Dame Penelope famously played snobbish suburban neighbour Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life, as well as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born.
Image caption, Penelope Keith starred with on-screen husband Paul Eddington in The Good Life
The statement released on behalf of her family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.
"The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."
In her tribute, Kendal said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope's death.
"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 Rodney at this time, theirs was a great love story and partnership. She was a joy to know and work with, and she will be much missed."
Obituary: How formidable sitcom star won the nation's hearts
Others paying tribute included comedian and presenter Sue Perkins, who praised her on Instagram for having been the "creator of some of the greatest sit com characters of all time".
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth remembered Dame Penelope as "such a special lady - a wonderful actress, a real friend, so funny, so generous with the time she gave to good causes". He added: "Hers was indeed a good life."
Former culture secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt posted: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE. She was a neighbour and friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford.
"She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, and brought happiness to millions. RIP dear Penny."
Also paying tribute, novelist Lissa Evans noted the marked difference between Dame Penelope's characters and her real personality.
"Margo Leadbetter was snobbish, humourless and entitled, and Penelope Keith managed to make her into one of the most adored (and oddly vulnerable) characters ever seen on a sitcom," Evans posted.
"She delivered every line as if it were a jewelled crown on a velvet cushion. An utter genius."
Dame Janet Suzman worked with Dame Penelope at the Royal Shakespeare Company when they were both young, and later on the 1981 film Priest of Love.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, she said her friend and colleague became "like a comedy Mount Rushmore" and was "enormous fun to work with".
"Those ice pick consonants of hers, that tremendous self-assurance in her character. It's just so transporting... Wonderful actress."
The Surrey-born actress joined the Royal Shakespeare company in 1963 and went on to win an Olivier Award for best comedy performance in 1976, for her role in the play Donkey's Years.
But she became a household name playing Margo in The Good Life from 1975, winning the…