British comedy actress Bella Emberg - best known for her role in The Russ Abbot Show - has died, aged 80.
One of her most memorable characters was Blunder Woman, the comic sidekick of the hapless superhero, Cooperman.
Emberg also appeared on The Benny Hill Show, Z Cars, and Doctor Who.
Her agent said she would be "greatly missed", while friend and pianist Bobby Crush described her as a "truly gentle soul".
The "funniest fairy", comedy actor Paul Chuckle said.
Skip Twitter post by @theBobbyCrush Such sad news ... my wonderful friend Bella Emberg has passed away. We’ve been chums since appearing together in a Summer show with Russ Abbot at the Princess Theatre, Torquay in 1981. A genuinely nice woman and despite her fierce on-stage characterisations, a truly gentle soul. — Bobby Crush (@theBobbyCrush) January 12, 2018 Report
Emberg had just finished filming a new Sky One comedy, In the Long Run, created by Idris Elba and due to be released later this year.
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Blunderwoman comedy star Bella Emberg has died at the age of 80, her agent has revealed.
She found fame in the 1980s, most notably alongside Russ Abbot, with whom she shared a comedy partnership.
At its peak, a staggering 18 million viewers saw Blunderwoman battle criminals alongside Cooperman, a mix of Superman and comedian Tommy Cooper, played by the show’s namesake
Emberg also starred in Tv shows as diverse as The Lily Savage Show and Doctor Who.
Her death was announced tonight by her agent.
Her friend Bobby Crush paid tribute tonight on Twitter: "Such sad news ... my wonderful friend Bella Emberg has passed away.
"We’ve been chums since appearing together in a Summer show with Russ Abbot at the Princess Theatre, Torquay in 1981.
"A genuinely nice woman and despite her fierce on-stage characterisations, a truly gentle soul."
Last summer she spoke exclusively to the Daily Mirror about her career in a fascinating interview.
Then 79, revealed she had to be persuaded to try on the Blunderwoman costume which fuelled her rise to stardom.
She said: The first time I saw the costume I said: ‘I am NOT wearing that!’ ...anyway I did and the first time I put it on I span round and my boobs fell out! I was always very careful after that.
“Now my right leg’s gone and the left’s going. If I tried to spin round like Blunderwoman today, I’d probably fall over."
She said the character was so successful it helped support her financially after acting jobs dried up.
She added: “Blunderwoman saved my career – and I still view her as a complete blessing.
“After it ended in 1996 I couldn’t get work. I went for jobs and they’d say: ‘We’d love to hire you but you’re too well known with Russ’.”
Born in Brighton in 1937, Emberg said she could remember doodlebugs, Germany’s V-1 flying bombs, landing near her house during the Second World War.
Wanting to be an entertainer from an early age, she made her debut in a summer season in Ryde on the Isle of Wight at 25.
She was eventually hired for small TV show roles by the likes of Les Dawson, Stanley Baxter and Benny Hill.
But her breakthrough was joining Abbot’s show, which ran from 1980 to 1996.
BRITISH comedy star Bella Emberg, who was best known for her role as Blunderwoman, has died at the age of 80.
The actress shot to fame alongside Russ Abbot in the 1980s, playing the comic sidekick to his hapless superhero Cooperman.
PA:Press Association Comedy actress Bella Emberg has died at the age of 80, her agent confirmed
She also appeared on The Benny Hill Show, Doctor Who, the Lily Savage Show and Z Cars.
Her agent confirmed her to death to the BBC tonight, adding that she would be "greatly missed".
Celebrity tributes poured in tonight from fellow comedians, who described Emberg as a "truly gentle soul".
Friend and pianist Bobby Crush said: "Such sad news ... my wonderful friend Bella Emberg has passed away.
Copyright (c) 2017 Rex Features. No use without permission. Emberg shot to fame as Blunderwoman on the Russ Abbot Show
"We’ve been chums since appearing together in a Summer show with Russ Abbot at the Princess Theatre, Torquay in 1981.
"A genuinely nice woman and despite her fierce on-stage characterisations, a truly gentle soul."
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Comedian Paul Chuckle tweeted: "Just heard. RIP the lovely Bella Emberg. Funniest fairy ever with us @SheffieldLyceum Will miss you."
Les Dennis said: "So sad to lose the lovely Bella Emberg. A funny, lovely friend. Thoughts and love with Rosemary. Goodnight Sweetheart."
Emberg had just completed filming on new Sky One comedy In the Long Run, created by Idris Elba, and due to be released later this year.
Such sad news ... my wonderful friend Bella Emberg has passed away. We’ve been chums since appearing together in a Summer show with Russ Abbot at the Princess Theatre, Torquay in 1981. A genuinely nice woman and despite her fierce on-stage characterisations, a truly gentle soul. — Bobby Crush (@theBobbyCrush) January 12, 2018
Just heard. RIP the lovely Bella Emberg. Funniest fairy ever with us @SheffieldLyceum Will miss you x pic.twitter.com/SRVAfoRtiF — Paul Chuckle (@PaulChuckle2) January 12, 2018
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