Hi-de-Hi! actress Ruth Madoc has 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 yesterday, 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."
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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."
However her agent confirmed in a statement today, December 10, that the 79-year-old had died, the Mirror reports.
Ruth, who was born in Norwich, 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.
Three years ago, she spent three weeks in hospital after breaking her hip and femur in four places.
She told the Belfast Telegraph in 2019: "I was doing a warm up on stage and just tripped and I went down. To cut a long story short, I spent two weeks in hospital in Dublin and then another week at home."
Tributes to the actress were posted on social media. Opera singer Paul Potts said: "So sad. I’ve sat with her at many charity functions. Lovely person."
Carol Challis, wife of late Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis, said: "Sad news indeed. John and I did a panto season with Ruth and we enjoyed her company very much .Rest easy ‘cariad Bach’."
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."
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