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Bella Emberg: Tributes as 'huge comedy talent' dies | Bella Emberg: Tributes as 'huge comedy talent' dies |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Tributes have been paid to the "huge comedy talent" Bella Emberg, who has died, aged 80. | Tributes have been paid to the "huge comedy talent" Bella Emberg, who has died, aged 80. |
The British actress will be remembered for her character Blunder Woman, the comic sidekick of hapless superhero Cooperman in the 1980s television programme The Russ Abbot Show. | The British actress will be remembered for her character Blunder Woman, the comic sidekick of hapless superhero Cooperman in the 1980s television programme The Russ Abbot Show. |
She was "a woman of immense warmth and generosity", Abbot said. | She was "a woman of immense warmth and generosity", Abbot said. |
Emberg also appeared on The Benny Hill Show, Z Cars and Doctor Who in a television career spanning six decades. | |
"She was not only a great sport but a huge comedy talent. I count myself very lucky to have worked alongside her," Abbot added. | "She was not only a great sport but a huge comedy talent. I count myself very lucky to have worked alongside her," Abbot added. |
"She really was a one-off." | |
In an interview with the Daily Mirror last year, Emberg insisted the Blunder Woman character had been a blessing, not a curse, despite meaning that when the show finished in 1996 she could not get work. | |
"I went for jobs and they'd say: 'We'd love to hire you but you're too well known with Russ,'" she told the paper. | |
"Once every few weeks I go and look at that Blunder Woman costume - still hanging up at home - and I feel nothing but gratitude." | |
Actor Les Dennis paid tribute to his "funny, lovely friend", while comedian Bobby Davro called her "a true comedy talent". | |
Friend and pianist Bobby Crush described her as a "truly gentle soul". | |
The "funniest fairy", comedy actor Paul Chuckle added, while her agent said she would be "greatly missed". | |
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. | 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. |