Lorraine Cheshire Dead at 65: Beloved British TV Actress Leaves Lasting Legacy

The British entertainment industry is in mourning following the announcement that Lorraine Cheshire, a veteran actress known for her quintessential “Northern” warmth and impeccable comedic timing, passed away on December 19, 2025, at the age of 65.

Her death marks a sombre end to a week that has been particularly devastating for fans of the long-running BBC drama Waterloo Road, coming just days after the tragic loss of another former cast member, William Rush.

A Career Defined by Heart and Humour

Lorraine Cheshire was one of those rare performers who felt like a neighbor to everyone who watched her. Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, in 1960, she didn’t take the traditional route to stardom. Cheshire remarkably didn’t begin her professional acting career until she was 35 years old—a transition prompted by her husband’s redundancy from the Army.

After training at the Arden Drama School, she quickly became a fixture of British television. She was perhaps best known for:

• Trollied (Sky One): Playing Sue Benson, the long-suffering customer service representative.
• Waterloo Road (BBC One): Portraying the recurring role of Fleur Budgen.
• Ackley Bridge (Channel 4): As the beloved school receptionist, Lorraine Bird.
• Early Doors (BBC): Starring as Joan Bell, a role that cemented her status in the world of British sitcoms.

Whether she was navigating the chaotic aisles of a supermarket or the drama-filled hallways of a secondary school, Cheshire brought an authenticity to her roles that resonated deeply with working-class audiences across the UK.

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Tributes Pour In: “An Absolute Queen”

The news of her passing was shared by her husband, John Dixon, on social media, prompting an immediate outpouring of grief from her colleagues.

Christina Bottomley, who starred alongside Cheshire in Early Doors, posted an emotional tribute featuring a glass of brandy and coke—Lorraine’s signature drink. “No words for today,” she wrote, adding a broken heart emoji.

Anthony Crank, a TV presenter and friend, described her as “one of the kindest, funniest, beautiful and caring souls I ever had the privilege to know.” He added, “This week is awful, just hell on earth… REST IN POWER YOU ABSOLUTE QUEEN.”

Faye McKeever, her co-star from Trollied, recalled their time on set with fondness: “Laughing with Lozza in unison will always be one of my favorite memories. Whenever she started it would set me off, and vice versa. Boy did we belly laugh.”

A Double Loss for the Waterloo Road Family

The timing of Cheshire’s death has added a layer of profound sadness to the industry. Just 48 hours earlier, the news broke that William Rush, who played Josh Stevenson on Waterloo Road, had died at the age of 31.

While the two actors appeared in different eras of the show, the “Waterloo Road family” is tight-knit, and social media has been flooded with messages from fans who grew up watching both performers. For many, this feels like the end of an era for British television.

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A Legacy of “Late-Blooming” Success

Lorraine Cheshire’s story serves as an inspiration for many aspiring actors. She proved that it is never too late to follow a dream, turning a family crisis in her 30s into a three-decade-long career that brought joy to millions.

She is survived by her husband John, her daughter Carly, and a body of work that will continue to make people laugh for years to come. In the words of her friends and family, the best way to honor her today is to “give your loved ones the biggest squeeze” and perhaps raise a glass of brandy and coke in her memory.

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