Elizabeth Kelly, actress best known as EastEnders' beloved Nellie Ellis, dies aged 104

Actress Elizabeth Kelly, also known to millions of EastEnders viewers as Nellie Ellis, has passed away at the age of 104, it has been confirmed.

Newcastle-born Kelly enjoyed a career spanning four decades, with her first role being an uncredited part in The Beatles musical film Magical Mystery Tour.

She gained her first notable credit as Edie Burgess, the sister-in-law of Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) and mother of Freda (Ali Briggs), in two episodes of Coronation Street that aired in 1971.

Throughout the '70s and '80s, Kelly enjoyed a string of roles in dramas including A Family at War and Grange Hill, before joining the BBC soap as Nellie, the cousin of Lou Beale (Anna Wing) in December 1993.

First appearing at the funeral of Pete Beale (Peter Dean), she moved in with the Fowler family and struck up an unusual friendship with Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin). While the two didn't often see eye-to-eye, Nellie would frequently sup with her in The Vic and they eventually moved into the same sheltered accommodation.

She continued to make fleeting appearances over the next five years until her final stint in Albert Square, which came after Ethel's death in 2000. Her character was also mentioned in 2007, by which point Kelly had retired from acting.

Some of Kelly's later roles included as Edith Weatherall, a friend of Tricia Dingle (Sheree Murphy) in Emmerdale, two separate parts in The Bill, Heartbeat and sister-show The Royal.

She also starred in cult indie film 24 Hour Party People, alongside Steve Coogan.

The Sun reports that Kelly is survived by her son and daughter, various grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Father Eddie Gubbins, of the church Kelly attended, noted to the paper that she was a “very strong lady and had a beautiful voice", and that she was "very gracious". He added that he saw her just days before her death, where he visited her care home.