The Bill and EastEnders star Roberta Taylor dies aged 76

Taylor at the Made In Dagenham premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in London in September 2010 Credit: Pa

British actress Roberta Taylor has died at the age of 76, her agent has confirmed.

The East London star was known for her roles as tough Inspector Gina Gold in The Bill and amorous Irene Raymond in EastEnders.

She died earlier this month.

A statement from theatrical agency Roxane Vacaa said: “Sadly I can confirm that Roberta died on July 6th. She was 76.”

Taylor also made appearances in Luther, Casualty, and Inspector Morse.

She was featured in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches as one of Grand High Witch's followers and in the 2005 BBC period drama Bleak House.

Roberta Taylor with fellow actors from The Bill Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, Trudie Goodwin and Cyril Nri Credit: 2nd left

In EastEnders from 1997, Taylor’s character was involved in storylines including cheating on her husband Terry Raymond (Gavin Richards) and her difficulties with her children by her former husband Ted Hills (Brian Croucher).

She left in 2000 when Irene appeared to head off to travel the world.

Two years later, she was cast in The Bill as the new inspector at Sun Hill police station.

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She portrayed Gina Gold, a chain-smoking whisky drinker with a sarcastic manner and a filthy temper, who drew comparisons with her EastEnders character until Taylor left the soap in 2008.

In 2005, the actress published her childhood memoirs, Too Many Mothers: An East End Childhood, where she explored her family’s complex lives.

She said to TV Times magazine that she grew up in a “peculiar family” in which she and her siblings plus cousins were “swapped” between her mother’s brothers and sisters.

Taylor said she had not seen her father since she was a child and did not wish to meet him.

She said: “My book is the story of the love of my mum’s life, a married man she met when she was 18, my father.

“At the time it was very difficult – my birth stopped her being free for the rest of her life.

“It’s a gritty story and ultimately it’s one of personal triumph. But it’s also a story that says ‘If you trust too much, you’re dead’.”

EastEnders producer Kyri Zindilis posted a photo on X of Taylor with Pat Butcher (Pat St Clement) and Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) filming an episode of the soap set in Spain.

He wrote: “Devastated to hear this – I adored Irene Raymond. We have this picture printed out and up on the wall in the Story Department, and it always makes me smile. RIP Robert Taylor. #EastEnders.”

Taylor leaves behind her second husband, Peter Guinness, also an actor, and one son, Elliot, who she had with her former spouse, Victor Taylor.

EastEnders said in a statement: “We’re deeply saddened to hear that Roberta Taylor has passed away.

“Roberta made an impact with audiences from the first moment she arrived in Albert Square with her performance as the formidable Irene Raymond.

“Roberta will always be remembered fondly by everyone that worked with her and our love and thoughts go to her family and friends.”

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