Joanna Bacon, Breeders and EastEnders Star, Dead at 72
Her passing was announced Wednesday by the UK's Harlow Theatre Company.
More from TVLine
TV Stars We Lost in 2025
TV Stars We Lost in 2024
CNN Political Analyst David Gergen Dead at 83
'Many of our members will remember Jo and her force of nature, her wit, her fun, her passion and her natural ability as an actor,' the company said in a statement. 'She became a member of Harlow Theatre Company at its inception in 1978. She appeared in many plays in iconic roles such as Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Maddie in Dirty Linen and Beverly in Abigail's Party along with reviews, musicals and pantomimes all at the Harlow Playhouse.
'She continued to support HTC attending many of our productions,' the statement continues. 'She would settle herself in the front row with a notebook and watched with a critical eye and her passion for theatre. She never forgot to praise our work. Thank you, Jo.'
Bacon's list of UK credits included her part as Maggie on the aforementioned EastEnders, as well as stints on Casualty, Prime Suspect, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Little Britain, A Touch of Frost and New Tricks. On this side of the pond, she is best known for her turn as Jackie, mother of Martin Freeman's Paul, on the FX/Sky One comedy Breeders, which ran for four seasons and ended in 2023.
On the big screen, she played Natalie's mother in the 2003 classic, Love, Actually.
TV Stars We Lost in 2025
View Gallery48 Images
Best of TVLine
'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others
Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?)
The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dobbies announces autumn activities at Shepton Mallet store
Dobbies Garden Centre is set to host a series of autumn events at its Shepton Mallet store. The activities, planned for October and November, promise something for everyone, including dogs, children, and families. One highlight is the Pup-kin Patch, which offers a day of fun for dogs who can relish treats, toys, and various activities. Their owners can expect a free digital photo opportunity set against an autumnal backdrop, capturing a memorable 'paw-trait' of their pets. Participating dogs will also receive special offers in the pet department, and owners can enjoy a free hot drink alongside their dog's 'puppuccino' with any cake purchase from the restaurant. Owners will also get £5 off a £25 spend in-store. The Pup-kin Patch will be open on Saturday, October 25, Sunday, October 26, Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1, with tickets priced at £12.50 per dog. Little Scare-lings is an event designed for children and families, featuring Halloween-themed activities and afternoon tea. Children can indulge in a three-tier selection of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats and get involved in slime and magic potion-making activities. A costume contest will also be held, and attendees are encouraged to dress in their spookiest attire. Little Scare-lings will take place on Saturday, October 18, Sunday, October 19, Saturday, October 25, Sunday, October 26, Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1, with tickets costing £15 per child and from £7.50 for adults. The event is a firm favourite for families, featuring action-packed activities. A new addition to this year's schedule is the autumn harvest terrarium workshop. Guests can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea while creating their own seasonal terrariums, guided by Dobbies' Green Team. The workshop includes a demonstration, a Q&A session, and a chance to get hands-on with the planting. The experience will culminate with a three-tiered afternoon tea, including sweet and savoury treats and unlimited tea and coffee refills. This workshop will take place on Saturday, October 11, Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, with tickets priced at £45. A luxury afternoon tea or prosecco is available as an optional upgrade at an additional cost. Tickets for all autumn events at Dobbies' Shepton Mallet store are now available for purchase at Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies' events programme manager, said: "It's fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages. "Tickets are selling fast for our planting and afternoon tea event, as it's the perfect afternoon out for couples and friends who love to be creative. "Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. "We can't wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Free padel sessions for kids at Southampton courts this summer
A popular padel operator is offering free sessions for children during the summer holidays. PadelStars is inviting children to play for free at its Southampton courts on Stoneham Lane as part of a new initiative. The scheme is aimed at addressing the rising costs of summer activities and the decrease in children's physical activity, and will run throughout the summer holidays. New research from Coram has revealed parents now spend more than £1,000 per child during the holidays, while only 47 per cent of children achieve the recommended daily activity levels. READ MORE: Celebrities to attend 'summer smash' padel event in Southampton With grandparents increasingly stepping in to help, a quarter of them are reportedly worried about the financial strain. Padel, a sport similar to tennis, has quickly gained popularity, with celebrities such as David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kate Middleton, and Kendall Jenner among its fans. PadelStars has locations across England and the south coast, including Bournemouth and Reading, with a site earmarked for Winchester too.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
RAYE to Receive Ivors Academy Honour Following Songwriter Royalties Campaign
RAYE has carved out yet another milestone in her ascendant career by becoming a recipient of an Ivors Academy Honour. The Ivors Academy has announced that the multi BRIT award-winning musician will receive the accolade at the maiden Ivors Academy Honours event in London this fall (Oct. 2). The ceremony is set to celebrate the artists and industry figures driving positive change for songwriters and composers, and will take place at the InterContinental London Park Lane. More from Billboard Major Labels Back Sweeping U.K. Reforms on Artist Contracts and Per Diems: 'It's About Time' Sabrina Carpenter Reveals 'Man's Best Friend' Tracklist via Golden Retriever Timmy Trumpet Cancels European Shows Following Injury The news follows the announcement that the U.K. government has confirmed the introduction of a £75 per diem for songwriters and session musicians. The agreement has been backed by the U.K. arms of major labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. At The Ivors in 2023, RAYE called on labels to allocate songwriters a share of master recording revenues. In her acceptance speech for the best contemporary song award – which she won for smash hit 'Escapism' – she highlighted the need for a greater level of respect to be shown towards 'voiceless beating heart of the industry, which is songwriters.' In a statement, Roberto Neri, chief executive of The Ivors Academy said, 'An incredible multi award-winning artist, RAYE is the one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation and always gives full respect and voice to fellow writers. She has consistently called for better pay and greater recognition for songwriters, championing structural change to protect the talent behind the music we love. We're proud to honour her with this well-deserved recognition.' Over the past few years, south Londoner RAYE (born Rachel Keen) has been at the forefront of this conversation, repeatedly pushing for a more inclusive and equitable music industry while also speaking out about the imbalance of power between artists and labels and the financial challenges faced by new artists. She split with her former label Polydor in July 2021, to which she signed in 2014, after taking to social media to explain that they would not let her release any new music unless her singles reached a certain level of commercial success. She has since worked as an independent act via distribution company Human Re Sources, a subsidiary of The Orchard. Her Mercury Prize-nominated debut LP My 21st Century Blues landed in February 2023, hitting No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The vocalist is currently gearing up for her biggest headline show to date at London's All Points East festival on Aug. 23. Support acts include Doechii, Cat Burns, and JADE, while Tyla is billed as a special guest. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword