- Resided for many years in Wimbledon, southwest London, before moving to sheltered accommodation in Kingston-upon-Thames (2015).
- She said she was happy to be a supporting actress to comedians, and never wanted to star in a show of her own, because the stress of starring in their shows had caused the illnesses and deaths of so many comedians with whom she had worked.
- She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama and Entertainment in London, England.
- Gave up smoking in 1976.
- Original voice of Eth in the radio version of The Glums (1978).
- Gave birth to her only child at age 34, a daughter Susan Jane Aitchison, aka Suzy Aitchison, on 4 June 1960. Child's father was her husband, Tim Aitchison.
- She played the Queen of Spain in Carry on Columbus (1992) after both Barbara Windsor and Joan Sims turned down the role.
- Played Miss Marple in BBC Radio 4 adaptations between 1993 and 2001.
- She was critical of the amount of sex, violence and swearing in modern television programmes.
- She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours List and the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
- Her husband was a chartered surveyor.
- A memorial service was held for her at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 27th November 2019.
- First found fame playing 'Eth' to Dick Bentley's 'Ron' in 'The Glum Family' sketches in the radio comedy show "Take It from Here" (1953).
- During World War II, she played the second grave digger in a production of "Hamlet" and Peter Quince in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
- Daughter of John Herbert (1894-1955) and Bertha Georgina (née Flett) Whitfield (1895-1982).
- In the radio series "Take It from Here" (1953), she voiced the character 'Eth' with Dick Bentley voicing 'Ron' in 'The Glum Family' sketches and recreated their voices in the film Double Bunk (1961).
- She started acting in 1943.
- Her husband became an antiques dealer in his retirement.
- Wanted to be another Judy Garland.
- Younger sister of John Whitfield (b. 1922).
- Maternal granddaughter of Alexander (1865-1941), born in Wick, Scotland, and Alice (née Wadham) Flett (1876-1938), born in Rochester, Kent.
- Maternal great granddaughter of Alexander (1816-1897) and Isabella (née Coghill) Flett (1821-1892). Both were born and raised in Wick, Scotland.
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