Beloved EastEnders icon dies after four-decade career
The EastEnders icon, who played Nellie Ellis on the BBC soap, passed away on Christmas Day.
www.express.co.ukHere’s the latest I can provide based on available reports:
- Elsie Kelly, best known for her role as Noreen Maltby in Benidorm, has been reported dead at age 89. (Sources indicate confirmation came from her representative and news outlets in April 2026.)
- The announcements describe she died peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by family, with a career spanning television, theatre, and film beyond Benidorm.
- Numerous outlets and industry figures paid tributes, noting her warmth, timing, and contribution to British comedy.
If you’d like, I can pull more details from specific outlets or summarize the tributes and career highlights in a concise profile. Would you prefer a quick bullet list or a short bio?
Citations:
- Benidorm legend dies aged 89 as co-stars pay heartbreaking tribute[1]
- 'Elsie Kelly Dies After Five-Decade Career Exposes the Quiet Power Behind a Fan Favourite'[4]
- Elsie Kelly, Benidorm legend and British TV mainstay, dies aged 89[5]