Miss Marple actress Geraldine McEwan dies, aged 82

Agatha Christie's Marple: Murder At The Vicarage Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple. Photo / AP

Geraldine McEwan has died.

The actress - who was known for playing the title character in Agatha Christie's Marple - passed away at the age of 82 at Charing Cross Hospital in London on Friday, after suffering a stroke last October.

Confirming the news in a joint statement, her children Greg and Claudia said: "Following a stroke at the end of October and a period in hospital, Geraldine McEwan passed away peacefully on January 30.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Charing Cross Hospital who cared for her incredibly well."

The iconic star - who won a Bafta award for Best Actress in 1991 for Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit - retired from the Miss Marple role in 2008 when she said she was leaving the series with "fond memories" after completing 12 of the films.

Announcing her retirement at the time, she said: "It has been a marvellous experience to inhabit this role for the last few years, and I am sure that my successor, whomever she may be, will thoroughly enjoy her time with the production team - and with the extraordinarily talented group of writers and actors that they come up with for each series.

"It's been an absolute pleasure to work on Miss Marple since 2003, and I leave with fond memories."

Geraldine - who was married to drama teacher Hugh Cruttwell for 49 years until his death in 2002 - led a successful career in theatre, film and television for over 50 years including roles in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, with her final film credit being for the Studio Ghibli picture Arrietty for which she voiced the character Haru.

- Bang! Showbiz