Actress Elsie Kelly has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed.
I was so saddened to hear about the passing of a truly wonderful actress yesterday, April 21st. While she had a long and successful career, I’ll always remember her best for bringing so much laughter as a star on Benidorm. Her agent, Michelle Sykes, confirmed the news, and it’s a real loss.
The agent announced that she died peacefully on April 21, 2026, after a brief illness, and was surrounded by her family. She was 89 years old.
In addition to her most famous part, she acted in many British TV shows, such as Inside No. 9, Harry & the Wrinklies, The Famous Five, and Crossroads.
The actress, originally from Merseyside, became well-known on television for playing the housekeeper, Mrs. Eileen Tardebigge, on the ITV soap opera Crossroads during the 1970s and 80s.
In 1996, she portrayed Joan, the cook, in the television adaptation of The Famous Five, and she also had a role in an episode of the E4 drama, Skins.
However, she was most famous for playing Noreen Maltby, the mother of Geoff Maltby, in the ITV comedy series Benidorm.
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She was a main cast member from the show’s beginning in 2007 through its fifth season in 2012, and then returned for seasons 7 through 10, from 2015 to 2018. In the tenth season, she also played the role of Noreen’s twin sister.
Other TV credits include The Ghost Hunter, Harry and the Wrinklies and Coronation Street.
Kelly dedicated 46 years to the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust as their resident director, beginning with her first production of Oliver! in 1974.
She went on to direct more than 90 shows and concerts with the society before retiring in 2019.
Derren Litten, the creator of Benidorm, honored Kelly in his official fan group for the show – a community he personally manages.
Everyone adored the actor, both as a character on the show and as a person. His talent and comedic timing felt effortless, so much so that people simply expected him to be brilliant.
He explained that the actress, who originally auditioned for the role of Madge and did a fantastic job, was so likeable and warm that he significantly expanded her character, Noreen. What started as a small part with just a few lines in the first couple of episodes was developed over many episodes and several series. Eventually, she even played Noreen’s twin sister, Doreen, in the tenth series.
Authors
Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-04-22 13:34