Emmerdale star Sheila Mercier dies aged 100

Actress Sheila Mercier has passed away aged 100.

The Emmerdale star, who played Annie Sugden in the soap, died peacefully in her sleep according to former Yorkshire Television co-star Frederick Pyne, who played Matt Skilbeck in Emmerdale Farm from its launch in 1972 until 1989.

According to Metro.co.uk, Pyne posted: “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.”

Mercier was one of the first castmembers on the soap when it launched as Emmerdale Farm back in 1972.

She was cast as Annie Sugden and became known by millions for her portrayal of the soap matriarch.

She was last seen in Emmerdale in 2009, where Annie attended the funeral of Jack Sugden.

Before her time as a soap star, 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 who died in 1993, before shooting to fame as Annie in Emmerdale in 1972.

After her successful time 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.

The veteran's son, Nigel Mercier, who passed away in 2017, also worked in the TV industry, initially with BBC Television News at Television Centre as a videotape editor and then at LWT.

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