Juliette Kaplan death: Last of the Summer Wine actress dies of cancer aged 80

Juliette Kaplan, who played battleaxe Pearl Sibshaw in Last Of The Summer Wine, has died from cancer aged 80.

The actress, from Bournemouth, died surrounded by family on Thursday.

Her death came after she returned home from a hospice two weeks ago, the star's agent said.

She appeared in 226 episodes of the BBC show between 1985 to 2010, entertaining the nation as she tried to thwart her serially unfaithful on-screen husband Howard from having affairs.

Kaplan also appeared in Coronation Street in 2015 as Agnes Tinker, the grandmother of long-standing character Beth.

In a statement on Twitter, her agent Barry Langford said: "Juliette Kaplan, "Our Pearl", has finally succumbed to the cancer she has bravely battled for so long.

"Thank you everyone who sent their love and support to this fearless and supremely gifted actress. As she said, "Ta-ta and it's been fun"."

Mr Langford previously said on July 31 that Kaplan was "gravely ill".

Across a lengthy career, she also appeared in Doctors, Brookside, EastEnders and London's Burning.

She leaves behind two daughters and a son.