Actress Julie Stevens has died aged 87.
The star, who appeared in the Carry On films and The Avengers and appeared on several children’s TV programmes, died after a three-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Her daughter Rachel confirmed the news of her death, saying she faced the challenges of her final few years ‘with good humour and great charm’.
She added in a statement that Stevens ‘will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her ability to make every child feel seen, and her lasting legacy in the world of children’s television’.
Tributes have been paid from fans on social media after a post on Legends of Kids TV said, sent in from Rachel: ‘It’s with sadness I let you know that Julie died on Thursday, after a difficult 3 years with Parkinson’s. Thankfully it was very peaceful at the end.’
Stevens was due to celebrate her 88th birthday in a few weeks.
Born on December 20 1936, in Prestwich, Lancashire, Stevens winning a talent contest aged 20 led to a contract with the former broadcaster ABC Television Limited.
She joined the cast of spy series The Avengers in 1962 as nightclub singer Venus Smith, who would help Patrick Macnee’s character John Steed in his missions, before picked to play Gloria in 1960s comedy film Carry On Cleo.
In 1964, her daughter said she was heavily pregnant with her first child Daniel when she auditioned for children’s programme Play School.
The popular children’s programme made its debut on BBC Two’s launch on April 21 1964, and ran for 24 years, until March 1988.
It shaped the childhood of millions and catapulted many of its presenters to fame, including Rick Jones, Brian Cant, Johnny Ball, Toni Arthur, Floella Benjamin, a presenter, actress and writer and now a Liberal Democrat peer.
She was also the singer and narrator of schools television show Look and Read, and had appeared in comedy film Carry on Cleo, as well as comedy series Girls About Town.
Her most recent role was in a 2001 episode of Holby City.
Before her career in showbusiness, Stevens trained as a nurse, and as well as holding several roles in children’s TV and comedy, also starred in various adverts.
Stevens was married to fellow Play School presenter John Whaite from 1962 to 1975, and then married Michael Hucks in 1981.
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Several fans have taken to X to pay tribute, with @JohnMalt1 writing: ‘Another small piece of my childhood has gone! RIP Julie Stevens.’
‘She was a great singer and actress. An asset to the series. Rest in peace, Julie Stevens,’ @HHarcoy said.
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Rodney Marshall wrote: ‘Sad to hear that the very first Avengers girl – Julie Stevens – has passed away. She played nightclub singer and reluctant Steed helper Venus Smith & was in the very first episode my dad wrote. Stevens sung as well as acted in each of her six episodes, each recorded ‘as live’.’
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