Eastenders star Anna Karen has died in a house fire in Ilford at the age of 85.
Fire crews were scrambled to the blaze on the ground floor of a mid-terrace house in Windsor Road shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday, February 22.
Firefighters got the fire under control in less than an hour but the actress had died.
Karen was best known for her role as Olive in One the Buses and as Aunt Sal in Eastenders, the sister of Eastenders legend Peggy Mitchell played by Barbara Windsor.
An Eastenders spokeswoman said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Anna Karen has passed away.
Anna Karen, who played Aunt Sal, has passed away. An EastEnders spokesperson has said “We are deeply saddened to hear that Anna Karen has passed away... Our love and thoughts are with Anna’s family and friends.” pic.twitter.com/vF5NDIu21a
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) February 23, 2022
“Anna created a sharp, quick witted and extremely popular character in Aunt Sal that the audience will never forget, just as those who worked with her at EastEnders will never forget her warmth, kindness fun and good humour.
“Our love and thoughts are with Anna's family and friends.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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