Early in her career she worked in repertory in Manchester and while there obtained occasional television roles. When offered scripts she can usually tell within 5 pages if it is suitable for her. When it came to 'To the Manor Born' which was intended for a radio series, she considered it one of the best scripts that she'd read and asked to show it to BBC television light entertainment head John Howard Davis and the rest is history.
Since 1990, she has been President of the UK Actors' Benevolent Fund
(replacing Lord Laurence Olivier).
She was awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2014 Queen's New Year Honours List for services to the arts and to charity.
She is an avid gardener and even hosted a gardening show on the radio.
Her husband was a detective constable with the West Sussex C.I.D.
I was very tall and very plain - I wasn't going to get very far on looks - so I thought I'd better be the funny girl.
[On being awarded Damehood] It's a recognition for not only my 54 years of being an actress but also for all the charities with which I'm associated and I think they'll be thrilled.