Her family said she "died peacefully" early on Friday at Denville Hall, a care home in London for those in the entertainment industry.

A statement from her children, Beatie and Ben Edney, said: "She has lived an amazing life and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end.

"Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have taken of our mum over the past year."

Syms was born in Woolwich, London, and was educated at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Her more recent work included the BBC's The Young Ones, a series in which six celebrities in their 70s and 80s attempted to overcome some of the problems of ageing by harking back to the past.

From 2013 to 2019, Syms was the narrator of Talking Pictures on BBC2.