These brilliant photos capture the day the late Ruth Madoc came to Liverpool for the opening of a now lost fashion store.
Hi-de-Hi! actress Ruth Madoc died just one day after she assured fans she was "well" following an accident that saw the star rushed into hospital. A statement posted to Ruth's Instagram page on December 9, read: "Following an accident earlier this week, and after medical assessment, regretfully Ruth Madoc is no longer able to appear in this year's pantomime of Aladdin at the Princess Theatre in Torquay.
"Everyone at the theatre wishes Ruth a speedy recovery. Further announcements regarding casting will take place in due course." Ruth added: "Hiya everyone please don’t worry! I’m well and I’ll soon be back to normal, but unfortunately @princesstheatretorquay won’t get to have The Empress Gladys in the Panto this Christmas."
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However her agent confirmed in a statement on December 10 that the 79-year-old had died, the Mirror recently reported. Many tributes have since been paid and a spokesman for British comedy channel Gold said: "We are all deeply saddened at Gold to learn that the wonderful Ruth Madoc has passed away at 79.
"Audiences adored her as Gladys Pugh in Hi-De-Hi! Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult and sad time."
Born in Norwich, Ruth was best known for playing Gladys Pugh in the hit 1980s BBC comedy Hi-de-Hi!, for which she received a BAFTA TV award nomination for Best Light Entertainment Performance. She later appeared on Little Britain as Daffyd Thomas' mother.
During her career, Ruth also came to Liverpool with co-stars Paul Shane and Su Pollard. These images, courtesy of Bernard Rose photography, show the late star in 1984 at the opening of Liverpool's Topshop in Church Street.
Do you recognise anyone in these photographs? Let us know in the comments section below.
In March 1984, Top Shop, Top Man and a Burger King were all opened on site and crowds gathered to see the official ribbon cutting. In these images, you can spot shoppers in their 80s style clothing eager to catch a glimpse of the stars and get inside to see the shop for the first time.
Another image also shows staff, customers and the stars inside the newly opened store. At the time, the ECHO reported: "If you are looking for the very latest clothes, you need look no further than the new, bigger Top Shop and Top Man stores. As you can imagine, more space means more style to choose from."
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In February 2021, it was announced that all Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge stores would close after online fashion giant Asos brought the brands from the administrators of Arcadia, two months after its collapse. Arcadia collapsed into insolvency the December prior after pandemic closures further exacerbated the group's troubles.
But these images offer a rare glimpse into the stores past in the city centre. In the images, Ruth can be seen smiling on stage with a mic talking to the crowd and also laughing from inside the shop.
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As many continue to pay tribute, these rare photos offer a glimpse into one of Ruth's Liverpool visits. Taken nearly 40 years ago, you may also spot a familiar face.
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