Former Emmerdale stalwart Sheila Mercier, who played beloved character Annie Sugden, has died just days before her 101st birthday.
The actress died peacefully in her sleep according to former co-star Frederick Pyne, who spread the news in a Twitter post that was reported on by Metro.co.uk .
Mercier was one of the original cast members when the show first launched in 1972. She stayed in the soap until 1994 and returned for a special guest appearance 10 years ago.
Pyne, who played Matt Skilbeck in the show, tweeted : "Sad to tell all you Emmerdale fans that Sheila Mercier, Annie Sugden, died peacefully in her sleep…
"She would have been 101 years old on New Years Day. She was a great character and wonderful to work with."
She was cast as Annie Sugden and became known by millions for her portrayal of the soap matriarch.
She notably returned for the funeral of Annie's son Joe in 1995, and was last seen on screen in 2009.
Mercier started her career on stage as a Shakespearean actress before joining the RAF during World War II.
After the war, she returned to theatre before landing her big break in TV.
She appeared in Dial RIX in 1963 alongside her husband, Peter Mercier, before shooting to fame as Annie in Emmerdale in 1972.
After her long stint on the soap, she was recognised for her career in 1985 with an appearance on This Is Your Life.
She was presented with the show's iconic big red book and, and later appeared in a special programme to mark Emmerdale's 5000th episode.
