Cleethorpes-born 'Mrs Mangel' Vivean Gray dies aged 92

Vivean Gray, as Mrs Mangel in Neighbours Credit: Grundy Television

Television soap legend Vivean Gray – the Cleethorpes-born actress who played meddlesome Neighbours character Nell 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 daughter of a Grimsby fish merchant, Jean Vivra Gray, as she was born, lived in Lindum Road, Cleethorpes, before moving to Australia in 1952 to pursue her acting career.

Mark Little, who played Nell Mangel's son Jo, spoke to ITV News to pay tribute to his on-screen mother:

Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison said in a statement: "It's with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Vivean Gray."

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.