Dame Penelope Keith, celebrated British actress best known for her role in “The Good Life,” died at the age of 86 after a cancer diagnosis.
Colleagues from television, comedy and politics offered tributes, highlighting her iconic performances on stage and screen.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts issued a statement expressing sorrow over her “passing” and listed her two BAFTA wins and multiple nominations.
Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp publicly objected to the use of the term “passing,” arguing that the academy should have used the word “died,” as reflected in the family’s announcement.
Allsopp posted a comment on the academy’s social media account, asserting that Dame Penelope “did not ‘pass’; she was not a car or a bottle of ketchup.”
She emphasized that BAFTA, as an organization, ought to mirror the language employed by the family in their statement.
The family confirmed that Keith died peacefully at her Surrey home while living with cancer and asked that her privacy be respected.
Allsopp’s criticism sparked debate online, with some users defending “passing” as a gentler alternative to “died.”
She has previously engaged in social media disputes, including a notable exchange with a poet over the use of a travel pass.
