Elsie Kelly

Elsie Norma Hall (née Kelly; 7 June 1936 – 21 April 2026) was an English actress. With a career spanning five decades, she appeared in various television shows including Crossroads, The Famous Five and Harry and the Wrinklies, before taking on the role of Noreen Maltby on the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2012, 2015–2018).

Early life Elsie Norma Kelly was born on 7 June 1936 in Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire to Evelyn (née Hogg) and Denis Kelly, the alderman of Bootle Council. As a child, she would sing in bomb shelters during the World War II. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke School of Dance and Dramatic Art and whilst working as a secretary at Waterloo Hospital, Crosby, sang with local amateur operatic societies.

Career Kelly became Director of the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust in 1973, Throughout her time with the company, she directed various productions in the Liverpool Empire, Productions include Annie, 42nd Street, Oliver, The Sound of Music, The Full Monty, Hello Dolly, Crazy for you, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Jekyll and Hyde.

Following a gap from television work, Kelly appeared in the film Intimate Relations in 1996 and then returned to television to play Joan, the cook in the television adaptation of The Famous Five for a number of episodes between 1995 and 1997. This was followed by her portrayal of Mrs Humphries in The Ghost Hunter in 2000 and Florrie in Harry and the Wrinklies.

In 2007, Kelly joined the original cast of the ITV comedy series Benidorm, portraying the character Noreen Maltby, the mother of Geoff (Johnny Vegas). Kelly was initially only contracted for the first series with the character set to be killed off, however following the development of the relationship between the characters, the storyline was rewritten and Kelly portrayed the role over the next decade, appearing as a regular from series 1 to 5 and again from series 7 to 10. In series 10, Kelly also played Noreen's identical twin sister Doreen in a dual role.

She also appeared as Mrs. Hargreaves in Coronation Street for 2 episodes in 2011, and appeared in an episode of Skins.

Kelly made an appearance in "Nana's Party", the fifth episode of the second series of the British anthology series Inside No. 9 as the role of Maggie.

Personal life and death Kelly married Gordon Hall in 1967 and they had two sons together. Hall died in 2023. Several tributes were paid to her, including from Benidorm writer Derren Litten who described her as "one of the best loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members" adding that her "acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted." Johnny Vegas, who played her on-screen son in Benidorm said Kelly was a "mother figure to him, on and off screen, and guided him through many highs and lows whilst overseas together" [...] adding that she "made going into work a true joy".

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1979–1988 Crossroads Mrs. Tardebigge Regular role 1988 Bread Lady in Street 1 episode 1995–1997 The Famous Five Joan Recurring role 1996 Intimate Relations Enid Film role 1999–2002 Harry and the Wrinklies Aunt Florrie Regular role 2000 The Ghost Hunter Mrs. Humphries Recurring role 2007 Skins Lovely Old Lady 1 episode 2007–2008 The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various 2 episodes 2007–2012, 2015–2018 Benidorm Noreen Maltby / Doreen Main role; dual role as Doreen in series 10 2009 Occupation Dorothy Ferguson 1 episode 2011 Late Bloomers A Grey Panther Film role 2011 Coronation Street Mrs. Hargreaves 2 episodes 2011 All Star Family Fortunes Herself Guest; 1 episode 2015, 2024 Inside No. 9 Maggie / Party Guest 2 episodes: "Nana's Party" (2015), "Plodding On" (2024) 2016 Brief Encounters Estelle 1 episode 2017 Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday Herself Documentary Sources: