Upstairs, Downstairs' Jean Marsh leaves huge amount in will for family, friends, and charities
Upstairs, Downstairs co-writer and star Jean Marsh died from complications with dementia in April 2025.
Upstairs, Downstairs star Jean Marsh left over £700,000 for her family, friends, and charities in her will following her death at the age of 90.
The actress - who died in her London home from complications with dementia in April 2025 - gifted £250,000 to her sister Yvonne and £25,000 to her godson Louis Berge, according to the Daily Mail.
Documents revealed that she also left £50,000 each for her pals, Sophie Scott, Sarah Berger and Lisa Lindsay-Hogg, the wife of filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
Probate records also showed she set aside £100,000 each to Emergency UK, a charity that helps victims of conflict and poverty, and Wigmore Hall, a London chamber music venue.
A final £3,000 was given to the two executors of the will, her close friend and ex-partner, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and Heather Gordon.
He announced Jean's death, saying she "died peacefully in bed looked after by one of her very loving carers".
Michael - who had a 10-year relationship with the entertainer in the 1970s - added: "She was as wise and funny as anyone I ever met, as well as being very pretty and kind, and talented as both an actress and writer.
"An instinctively empathetic person who was loved by everyone who met her.
"We spoke on the phone almost every day for the past 40 years."
Following his announcement, fans flooded social media with tributes, as one penned on X: "Absolutely pained to hear that Jean Marsh has died...
"An absolutely stellar actress! Of who I LOVE in all three of her Doctor Who roles. Fantastic as Morgaine, and an absolute f****** powerhouse in Daleks Master Plan!
"And as many people know, Jon Pertwee's first wife... R.I.P. (sic)"
A supporter on Instagram typed: "RIP Ms Marsh. Upstairs Downstairs was one of my most favourite series, as a youngster.
"Jean Marsh was a very talented lady."
And a follower on Facebook wrote: "Very sad to hear this, absolutely loved her. What a wonderful talent she was."
Born in Stoke Newington, London, in July 1934, Jean was best known for co-writing and starring in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs as Rose Buck, from 1971 until 1975.
She won the 1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as the head parlour maid.
Jean reprised the character for the BBC's 2010 revival of the series.
She missed the start of the second series of the reboot because she suffered a minor stroke and ended up only appearing in two short scenes.
The performer made multiple appearances in the BBC sci-fi drama Doctor Who, with her debut coming in 1965 as Lady Joanna in The Crusade alongside William Hartnell, the first incarnation of the doctor.
She returned later that year as companion Sara Kingdom in The Daleks’ Master Plan. Jean reprised the character in multiple audio dramas from 2008 until 2016.
The actress played Morgaine in Battlefield (1989), appeared in The Wishing Beast (2007), and made an uncredited cameo in An Adventure in Space and Time (2013).
In 1955, Jean married Jon Pertwee, the Fifth Doctor, but they divorced five years later.
She did not remarry, but enjoyed relationships with Michael, Albert Finney, and Kenneth Haigh.
In 2012, she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the late Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honours list for services to drama.
