Tessa Parker: Last News

FORMER EastEnders star Josephine Melville has passed away backstage during a theatre performance, her agent has confirmed. The actress is renowned for starring on EastEnders as Tessa Parker, the girlfriend of Kelvin Carpenter, in 1986. She was performing in a play at Nottingham Playhouse.

FORMER EastEnders star Josephine Melville has passed away backstage during a theatre performance, her agent has confrimed. The actress is renowned for starring on the soap as Tessa Parker, the girlfriend of Kelvin Carpenter, in 1986. She was performing in a play at Nottingham Playhouse.

A British TV and theatre actress has died backstage after performing a play. 

Former Eastender actress Josephine Melville has sadly died after appearing in a play in Nottingham.

died yesterday after appearing in a production  of Nine Night at Nottingham Playhouse.The talented performer portrayed Tessa Parker in EastEnders during the 1980s and her other credits include The Bill and Casualty. Nottingham Playhouse has said Josephine was treated by paramedics and a medically qualified audience member but died at the scene yesterday. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but Nottingham Playhouse has since paid tribute to the Essex-born actress and described her as a "wonderful and well-loved person".The venue’s statement read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that last night the actor Josephine Melville, passed away backstage at Nottingham Playhouse following the performance of the play Nine Night, in which she was performing."Josephine's family have been informed, and our thoughts and deep condolences are with them."Josephine had been portraying the character of Aunt Maggie in the play, which was a co-production with Leeds Playhouse.All remaining performances of Nine Night at the theatre have been cancelled.Tributes have been pouring in for the late star, with Loose Women’s Denise Welch writing: “So so sad.