Gudrun Ure, the actor who played Super Gran in the popular 1980s ITV children’s series, has died at the age of 98.
According to her niece, Kate McNeill, she died at her home in London.
Ure was born in Milton, Campsie, near Stirling, in 1926 and grew up in Glasgow. Early in her career, she appeared at the Edinburgh Festival, Children’s Theatre, and she also appeared in the 1951 stage version of Othello, starring and directed by Orson Welles. She later appeared in the television dramas Casualty and Midsomer Murders.
However, Ure is best known for his role as Super Gran, a role he accepted at the age of 59. Her character had superhuman strength and agility after receiving a magical beam, and the show featured basic special effects at the time and a cartwheel stunt double. The film is based on children’s author Forrest Wilson’s book, first published in 1978, and illustrated by David McKee.
Several stars of the 1970s and 80s appeared on the show including the strongman and shot putter Geoff Capes, the comic actor Roy Kinnear, and the footballer George Best.
In 1987, Ure told the BBC the role was “great fun”.
The show’s theme tune was written and performed by Billy Connolly. It included the lines: “You can take your heroes, your Robert De Niros, your Al Pacino too, and big Stallone is just another phoney, he couldn’t lace her shoes!”
“Is there nothing she can’t do?”
Although only 27 episodes of Super Grand were produced, the series aired in 60 countries and won an International Emmy Award in the children’s category in 1985. I received an award.
Ms. McNeil said that one night her husband was watching Casualty and she heard the voice and immediately she said, “That’s Gudrun.” I remember. ”