She was one of the great soap villains.
Meddling Neighbour Mrs Mangel terrorised the residents of Ramsay Street for two years in the 1980s.
Now Vivean Gray, the British born actress who played Mrs Mangel, has died at the age of 92.
Gray was best known for her role in the Australian soap, but also played gossipy neighbour Ida Jessup in The Sullivans.
She landed her most famous role, as busybody Mrs Mangel in Neighbours, in 1986.
The actress became an overnight star in the soap but her role was so convincing that she received abuse from viewers, and decided to leave Neighbours after two years.
“You’ve just got to have a sense of humour about the whole thing, and rationalise it by saying at least the character is working!” she once said of the reaction to her alter-ego.
Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison said in a statement: “It’s with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Vivean Gray.
“Mrs Mangel was the ultimate busybody, remembered for her conservatism and her caustic wit. She was a true soap legend and we thank her for all the wonderful memories.”
Rick Maier, head of drama at Network Ten, told Australian blog TV Tonight: “Mrs Mangel and Mrs Jessup were two of our most iconic characters from one our very best character actors.
“Ramsay Street changed forever, and certainly no secret was ever safe, with Mrs Mangel on the lookout.
“Vivean’s contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours family.”
Mark Little, who played Joe Mangel in the soap, paid tribute on Twitter.
“Vivean Gray: Legend many times over. I was privileged to know and work with her. We laughed a lot creating The Mangel,” he said.
Jean Vivra Gray was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, the eldest of four children and the daughter of a fish and chip owner.
The family moved to Surrey and Gray came to acting late in life, after working as a photographer’s assistant and a sales assistant in a department store.
She moved to Australia in 1953, looking for acting work, and landed roles on the stage and in radio.
Gray is said to have moved back to West Sussex after leaving Neighbours.
As a child growing up in the 1980s, Neighbours was essential teatime viewing and the latest plot twists and turns were feverishly discussed at school the following day.
Neighbours was more successful in the UK than it was in its home country – so popular it had to be shown twice a day, at 1.35pm and again at 5.35pm.
From the romantic twists and turns of Scott and Charlene to the bumptious pomposity of Harold Bishop and the scheming machinations of ruthless businessman Paul Robinson, a generation of schoolchildren and housewives was hooked.
As the bothersome busybody constantly at loggerheads with easygoing Madge Bishop, Mrs Mangel was a fine villain – not at all evil but interfering and holier than thou.
At heart, the rest of the Neighbours knew she was one of them and gave her a fine sendoff. Her final scene – above – still chokes me up nearly 30 years later, especially when lovable Labrador Bouncer gives her an heartbreaking goodbye wave.
