Gudrun Ure, renowned for her role as Super Gran in the beloved 1980s ITV children’s series, has passed away at 98, as confirmed by her niece, Kate McNeill, at her London home.
Born in 1926 in Milton of Campsie, near Stirling, Ure grew up in Glasgow. She began her career performing at the Edinburgh festival, the Children’s Theatre, and notably in a 1951 stage rendition of Othello alongside Orson Welles.
While she later graced screens in TV dramas such as Casualty and Midsomer Murders, it was her portrayal of Super Gran that etched her into the hearts of viewers.
Taking on the role at 59, her character possessed superhuman abilities after being struck by a magical ray.
The series, based on Forrest Wilson’s books with illustrations by David McKee, featured rudimentary special effects and a stunt double for cartwheeling scenes.
Super Gran attracted a plethora of guest stars from the 1970s and 80s, including strongman Geoff Capes, comic actor Roy Kinnear, and football legend George Best.
Gudrun Ure’s versatile talent and unforgettable portrayal of Super Gran ensured her lasting impact on the world of entertainment.
In 1987, Ure told that the role was “great fun”.
The show’s theme tune was written and performed by Billy Connolly. It included the lines:
“You can take your heroes, your Robert De Niros, your Al Pacino too, and big Stallone is just another phoney, he couldn’t lace her shoes!”
It ended with the line:
“Is there nothing that she cannae do?”
Despite comprising only 27 episodes, Super Gran reached audiences in 60 countries and clinched an international Emmy in 1985 for its outstanding contribution to children’s and young people’s entertainment.
McNeill said:
“She had a very memorable voice. I remember my husband was watching Casualty one night, and I went ‘that’s Gudrun’ as soon as I heard the voice.”
