Tributes paid to Blackadder star Patsy Byrne (80)

Veteran actor Patsy Byrne – who achieved small screen fame playing the role of Nursie in Blackadder II – has died aged 80.

Denville Hall, a care home for elderly actors in north-west London, said she died on June 17th.

Byrne was born in Ashford, Kent and studied at drama school before joining the RSC.

She also starred alongside Robinson in a series three episode of the children’s sitcom Maid Marian And Her Merry Men.

Byrne is the second star of Blackadder to die in as many weeks. Rik Mayall, who played Lord Flashheart in the second and fourth series, was buried on Friday. He died at his home in Barnes, south-west London, last week.

The two shared screen time during the second series of Blackadder in 1986, with Mayall’s sex-obsessed lothario saying to Byrne’s plump middle-aged female character: “Nursie, I like it, firm and fruity. Am I pleased to see you or did I just put a canoe in my pocket?”

Actor Tony Robinson has led tributes to his Blackadder co-star. The actor and Time Team presenter joined Blackadder producer John Lloyd in hailing Byrne.

Sir Tony told BBC Five Live she had been like a mother to "her boys" on the show and was "indulgent" towards them despite being an experienced actress whose past included the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

He said: “She had unerring skill to make the daftest, silliest thing sound absolutely real and absolutely plausible.

“I remember seeing her in As You Like It and it was one of those parts where the actress usually goes ‘de dum de dum de dum de dum de dum’ but the way she said it was so that each word was a revelation to her and I think that was one of her great comic skills.”

Tributes were also paid on Twitter. John Challis, who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, tweeted a picture of Byrne on stage with the RSC, adding: “Sad to hear that actress Patsy Byrne has died.”