Super Gran star Gudrun Ure dies aged 98

Virgin Radio

15 May 2024, 10:09

Super Gran star Gudrun Ure has died at the age of 98, her niece Kate McNeill has confirmed.

A radio, TV and stage actor, Ure was best known for her role as the lead in the much-loved 1980s children's show Super Gran, which aired from 1985 to 1987.

In the show, the Scottish actress portrayed Granny Smith, an action stunt performing gran with superpowers which were bestowed on her after she was accidentally struck by a magical ray. 

------------------------------------

DON'T MISS:

Olly Alexander speaks out following Eurovision disappointment

The Night Manager series 2 - everything we know so far

Who won The Traitors series one and where are all the contestants now?

------------------------------------

Having discovered her super strengths, episodes of the fun children’s show showed Ure’s Super Gran using her powers for good to protect her home of Chiselton from villains who were up to no good.

Ure’s performance as Super Gran not only won over the hearts of viewers young and old in the UK, but also in c.60 other countries where the show was sold for broadcast. In 1985, the show also picked up an International Emmy award in the Children and Young People category.

Writing a tribute to her “really kind” aunt in the Facebook post which announced her death, Ure’s neice Kate McNeill spoke about how the actress was always proud of her role in the beloved kids series, and had recently been excited to hear that a Super Gran film might be in the works in the future.

McNeill also celebrated Ure’s memorable voice, adding: “I remember my husband was watching Casualty one night, and I went ‘that’s Gudrun’ as soon as I heard the voice.”

Alongside her lead role in Super Gran and several appearances in Casualty, Ure also starred in TV shows including Midsomer Murders and an Encyclopaedia Britannica edition of Macbeth, in which she starred as Lady Macbeth.

Ure’s most notable Shakespearean role came in 1951, however, when she starred as Desdemona opposite Orson Welles in his production of Othello.

The thoughts of everyone at Virgin Radio are with Gudrun’s friends and family.