Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Georgina Hale dies aged 80

10 January 2024, 21:50 | Updated: 10 January 2024, 21:53

Georgina Hale
Georgina Hale. Picture: Alamy/Getty
Sukhmani Sethi

By Sukhmani Sethi

Bafta-winning actress Georgina Hale has died at the age of 80 as fans mourn the television star and pay their respects in a flood of tributes.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The actress, who also received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination was best known for her roles in Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, died on January 4.

Hale was known for her TV performances in programmes including Doctor Who, Budgie, One Foot in The Grave, Minder, The Bill and A Rather English Marriage.

Grieving fans took to social media to pay their respects to the actress, sharing their best memories of the TV star’s work spanning six decades.

One fan wrote: “Sad news, Georgina Hale has gone to the great cinema in the sky. She will always be ‘Mrs Budgie’ to us, but she was so much more, Georgina will be so missed.”

Another wrote: “Georgina Hale was a big part of my childhood. The Happiness Patrol was one of the first Doctor Who stories I fell in love with & watched it over and over again. About to watch it again this week in my latest marathon, too.”

Read more: Matthew Perry investigation into death concludes after Friends star was found unresponsive in hot tub

Read more: Giovanni Pernice breaks silence after Amanda Abbington 'suffering from PTSD' after training with Strictly dancer

Georgina Hale in Mahler
Georgina Hale in Mahler. Picture: Alamy

Doctor Who actor Colin Baker, who played the sixth incarnation of the Doctor, wrote: “RIP the wonderful and unique Georgina Hale. I never worked with her alas but [loved] her work. She was two months younger than me!”

Bafta also penned a tribute to the actress and said: “We’re saddened to learn of the passing of Georgina Hale.

“Well known for her award-winning work in the films of Ken Russell, she was awarded Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles in 1975.”

Born in Ilford, Essex, in 1943, Hale landed her first major TV appearances in plays filmed for ITV Playhouse, Play of the Week and The Wednesday Play.

In 1990, she played villainous, tea-drinking sorceress T-Bag for the much-loved children's programme named after her character.

The actress also appeared in Ken Russell’s 1974 film Mahler.

The TV and film star was an accomplished thespian, treading the boards at various theatres across the country and receiving a nomination for an Olivier Award in 1981 for her performance in Neil Dunn's play Steaming at the Comedy Centre, London.

Hale married late actor John Forgeham in 1964, but the marriage came to an end and the pair divorced.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Kamala Harris went door-knocking in Pennsylvania on the night before the election

Kamala Harris surprises residents in Pennsylvania as she goes door-knocking in final bid to win votes

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year amid as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Hundreds of people died in the devastating flooding in Spain

British man who survived Valencia floods describes hearing his neighbours’ horrifying final screams before they died

Amy Dowden said she was ‘heartbroken' as she left this year's Strictly Come Dancing

Amy Dowden says her ‘heart is breaking’ after she confirmed she will not return to Strictly

Anthony Scaramucci said the row between Trump and Labour would blow over

'Anglophile' Trump's row with Starmer will have 'no impact' on wider relations with UK, Anthony Scaramucci says

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's "remarkable" foreign policy achievements

Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's 'near-death' experience

Live
US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls as election day arrives

US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls in the final race for the White House

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion