Mollie Sugden Dies

Thursday 2nd July 2009 - 13:00:10

'Are You Being Served?' star Mollie Sugden has died at the age of 86.

The actress - who was most famous for playing Mrs Slocombe in the classic BBC sitcom - passed away last night (01.07.09) at Guilford's Royal Surrey County with her sons Robin and Simon Moore at her bedside.

Her agent, Joan Reddin, said: "I represented her for more than 30 years and I was a very close friend. She had a long illness but it was very quick in the end. Her twin boys were with her and she faded away. She was a lovely, lovely person. She was a great professional."

They were very much in love. She started to go down when he died.

Mollie was married to fellow actor William Moore, who died nine years ago, and Joan says the actress never fully recovered from his death.

She said:"They were very much in love. She started to go down when he died."

As well as appearing in 'Are You Being Served?' as a bossy sales lady, Mollie also starred in 'The Liver Birds and was in 'Hugh and I', 'Please Sir!' and 'The Love of Ada'.

David Croft, one of the writers of 'Are You Being Served?', said Mollie was a "marvellous character".

He added: "She would never refuse any sort of comedy situation. No matter how undignified it was, she would always go along with it. She was marvellously funny."