Marian Diamond dead: BBC star dies 'suddenly' as Miriam Margolyes leads tributes

British actress Marian Diamond has died aged 89. Her friend and fellow actress Miriam Margoyles confirmed the tragic news in an emotional statement on social media. 

The Harry Potter star, who played Professor Sprout in several of the fantasy movies adapted from JK Rowling's book series, revealed that Ms Diamond died at University College Hospital in London on Monday, January 5. Reminiscing on their time working together, Miriam wrote: "Alas, on my mind is the sudden death last Monday, of my dear friend, Marian Diamond, at UCH in London, aged 89. We first met in Edinburgh, I think in 1968 at the Traverse Theatre, and I loved her from then on. We worked together in radio after I joined the BBC Drama Rep. Company in 1965. She was one of the angels in our business, endlessly generous, interested in others and thrilled by their success. She was beautiful, gentle, full of fun, wise and perceptive."

She continued: "I feel utterly bereft: a unique spirit has been taken very suddenly away from us. Her late sister, the casting director, Gillian Diamond and her close friend, the actor Hugh Dickson, both died in 2018. Gillian's sons survive her.

"I hope they will share with her friends the funeral details. She deserves a full house. Marian, you're held in my heart forever."

Another colleague, stage manager Paul Jackson, also paid tribute. He wrote: "I am deeply saddened by the news that Miriam Margoyles posted, that my dear friend Marian Diamond died on the 5th January, aged 89. She was a great supporter of Play School and my archiving of the programme and we remained friends for 35 years.

"In May 2014, Marian joined fellow early presenters at Riverside Studios for the 50th anniversary reunion of Play School’s first edition.

"Although I know she had been battling health issues in recent years, I was thrilled to see her in December 2024, when she joined Play School creator Joy Whitby, Phyllida Law (+Sophie Thompson) and Carol Chell at Riverside Studios, to view an exclusive showing of a previously “missing” episode from Thursday 12th August 1965, which she presented with Rick Jones.

"She was a gentle soul and did much work away from acting helping people. Will be sorely missed x".

Diamond was best known for her distinctive voice roles in many BBC radio and TV productions, including Play School. Diamond also narrated several episodes of Jackanory, dealing mostly with C. S. Lewis books. She voiced the part of Galadriel in 1981 radio series The Lord of the Rings.

As well as lending her voice to many TV productions, she also appeared on other credits in person in a number of films, including 80,000 Suspects, Subterfuge, and Goodbye Gemini.

On television she appeared in such series as Dixon of Dock Green, Danger Man, Brookside and The Armando Iannucci Shows.