BBC comedy icon died penniless in psychiatric hospital after Nearest and Dearest fame

A BBC actress and comedian sadly died penniless despite decades of fame - and appearing in hit ITV sitcom Nearest and Dearest for five years. Hylda Baker made her stage debut at the age of just 10, going on to land her iconic role as Nellie Pledge in Nearest and Dearest from 1968 until 1973. She was writing and producing her own stage shows by 14, and landed her own sitcom - The Best of Friends - in 1963.

Despite her incredible fame, appearing in films like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, as well as the musical Oliver!, Hylda's life ended tragically. Best known for bringing smiles to other people's faces, her life was full of turmoil.

She tied the knot with her husband Ben Pearson in 1929, but the marriage sadly broke down after Hylda suffered two ectopic pregnancies. The couple divorced just four years later in 1933.

Things didn't get easier for the actress. In 1961, she was hit by a passing car and left "waddling" - after suing the driver for damages, she was awarded just over £4,000 in 1965. Six years later in 1971, her chauffeur stole £2,500 of her money and ran away, being arrested three months later with only £45 of the cash remaining.

It didn't get better from there. At the age of 67, Hylda began showing signs of cognitive decline. She was relying on cue cards to remember her lines for the later series of Nearest and Dearest, and her acting career finally ended when she slipped on-set and broke her leg - deciding to sue production company LWT after the injury.

She was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and moved into Brinsworth House retirement home in 1981, aged 76. She died in 1986 at Horton Psychiatric Hospital in Surrey from bronchial pneumonia.

She spent her final years penniless, "lonely and forgotten", according to Pride of Manchester. Less than 10 people attended her funeral.