Elsie Kelly

Elsie Kelly
Kelly as Noreen Maltby on Benidorm
Born
Elsie Norma Kelly

(1936-06-07)7 June 1936
Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died21 April 2026(2026-04-21) (aged 89)
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1973–2024
Spouse
Gordon Hall
​
​
(m. 1967; died 2023)​
Children2

Elsie Norma Hall (née Kelly; 7 June 1936 – 21 April 2026) was an English actress. With a career spanning five decades, she appeared in various television shows including Crossroads, The Famous Five and Harry and the Wrinklies, before taking on the role of Noreen Maltby on the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2012, 2015–2018).

Early life

Elsie Norma Kelly was born on 7 June 1936 in Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire to Evelyn (née Hogg) and Denis Kelly, the alderman of Bootle Council. As a child, she would sing in bomb shelters during the World War II. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke School of Dance and Dramatic Art and whilst working as a secretary at Waterloo Hospital, Crosby, sang with local amateur operatic societies.[1]

Career

Kelly became Director of the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust in 1973,[2][3] Throughout her time with the company, she directed various productions in the Liverpool Empire,[4] Liverpool Royal Court, the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton and the Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight.[5] Productions include Annie, 42nd Street, Oliver, The Sound of Music, The Full Monty, Hello Dolly, Crazy for you, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Jekyll and Hyde.[2][4] Kelly announced her retirement from the company in 2019.[3][5]

In 1979, Kelly made her television debut appearing in the ITV soap opera Crossroads, in which she portrayed cleaner and gossip Mrs Tardebigge, a role which she played until the soap's cancellation in 1988. Kelly also appeared in an episode of Bread.[4]

Following a gap from television work, Kelly appeared in the film Intimate Relations in 1996 and then returned to television to play Joan, the cook in the television adaptation of The Famous Five for a number of episodes between 1995 and 1997. This was followed by her portrayal of Mrs Humphries in The Ghost Hunter in 2000 and Florrie in Harry and the Wrinklies.[6]

In 2007, Kelly joined the original cast of the ITV comedy series Benidorm, portraying the character Noreen Maltby, the mother of Geoff (Johnny Vegas). Kelly was initially only contracted for the first series with the character set to be killed off, however following the development of the relationship between the characters, the storyline was rewritten and Kelly portrayed the role over the next decade, appearing as a regular from series 1 to 5 and again from series 7 to 10.[7][8] In series 10, Kelly also played Noreen's identical twin sister Doreen in a dual role.[9]

She also appeared as Mrs. Hargreaves in Coronation Street for 2 episodes in 2011, and appeared in an episode of Skins.[2]

Kelly made an appearance in "Nana's Party", the fifth episode of the second series of the British anthology series Inside No. 9 as the role of Maggie.[10]

Personal life and death

Kelly married Gordon Hall in 1967 and they had two sons together. Hall died in 2023.[1]

Kelly died following a short illness on 21 April 2026, aged 89.[11][12] Several tributes were paid to her, including from Benidorm writer Derren Litten who described her as "one of the best loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members" adding that her "acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted."[13] Johnny Vegas, who played her on-screen son in Benidorm said Kelly was a "mother figure to him, on and off screen, and guided him through many highs and lows whilst overseas together" [...] adding that she "made going into work a true joy".[14]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1979–1988 Crossroads Mrs. Tardebigge Regular role
1988 Bread Lady in Street 1 episode
1995–1997 The Famous Five Joan Recurring role
1996 Intimate Relations Enid Film role
1999–2002 Harry and the Wrinklies Aunt Florrie Regular role
2000 The Ghost Hunter Mrs. Humphries Recurring role
2007 Skins Lovely Old Lady 1 episode
2007–2008 The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various 2 episodes
2007–2012, 2015–2018 Benidorm Noreen Maltby / Doreen Main role; dual role as Doreen in series 10
2009 Occupation Dorothy Ferguson 1 episode
2011 Late Bloomers A Grey Panther Film role
2011 Coronation Street Mrs. Hargreaves 2 episodes
2011 All Star Family Fortunes Herself Guest; 1 episode
2015, 2024 Inside No. 9 Maggie / Party Guest 2 episodes: "Nana's Party" (2015), "Plodding On" (2024)
2016 Brief Encounters Estelle 1 episode
2017 Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday Herself Documentary
Sources: [15][16]

References

  1. 1 2 Obituaries, Telegraph (23 April 2026). "Elsie Kelly, Crossroads actress who found late fame as Johnny Vegas's smothering mother in Benidorm". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Elsie Kelly to retire after 46 years". bostmusicals.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Elsie Kelly directs her final show for Birkenhead Operatic Society". wirralglobe.co.uk. 13 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "The Evening Read: My bond with Johnny saved me from death in Benidorm". liverpoolecho.co.uk. 11 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 Pearson, Michael (21 September 2018). "Bendorm star swaps screen for stage to direct Royal Court musical". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Harry and the Wrinklies". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Pickard, Anna (20 February 2007). "Why can't ITV make decent sitcoms?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Eames, Tom (12 January 2015). "Watch Johnny Vegas's Benidorm return clip". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Benidorm's Elsie Kelly". TV-Times. 7 April 2018.
  10. ↑ Allen, Andrew (24 April 2015). "'Inside No. 9' Season 2 Episode 5 review: 'Nana's Party'". CultBox. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Karasin, Ekin (22 April 2026). "Benidorm star Elsie Kelly dies aged 89 as distraught co-stars pay tribute". The Standard. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Benidorm star and Wirral theatre director Elsie Kelly dies". Wirral Globe. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Moss, Molly. "Elsie Kelly, Benidorm legend and British TV mainstay, dies aged 89 | Radio Times". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Tribute to 'comic genius' Benidorm star Elsie Kelly who has died". BBC News. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Elsie Kelly". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Elsie Kelly TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
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