Kirstie Allsopp has taken aim at Bafta over their film organisation's tribute to Dame Penelope Keith, who died on Sunday aged 86 after living with cancer.
The Location, Location, Location presenter was left fuming after the film and television organisation used the word "passing" rather than "death" in their message honouring the beloved actress.
Taking to X, Ms Allsopp wrote: "It's 'death', Dame Penelope died, she was an absolute national treasure, she lived & worked and was brilliant and then she died.
"Dame Penelope did not 'pass', she was not a car or a bottle of ketchup."
Penelope Keith was best known for her roles in The Good Life and To the Manor Born | PAShe also questioned why British culture has shifted away from using direct language around death.
Ms Allsopp made clear she had done her homework before firing off her criticism.
She pointed out that Dame Penelope's family had issued a statement saying the actress "died peacefully whilst living with cancer" at her Surrey home - wording she described as "a particularly elegant way of addressing two issues."
The TV presenter stressed that she had verified the family's language before taking Bafta to task.
Kirstie Allsopp
| PAShe added: "BAFTA is an organisation not a person, and as Dame Penelope's family statement said she had died, they should have at least reflected their language."
Ms Allsopp also lamented Britain's broader reluctance to discuss death directly, asking: "When did we move from saying 'sad to hear of the death of...' to 'sad to hear of the passing of'?"
The backlash sparked a heated debate online, with opinions firmly divided.
One user defended the use of softer language, saying: "I think it is a choice of words that different people are comfortable with. You should use what you feel comfortable using and let others use what they prefer. Let's not judge, it is a personal viewpoint."
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Paul Eddington, Penelope Keith, Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers on the set of The Good Life in 1975 | GETTYAnother shared a deeply personal perspective, revealing they had lost their 18-year-old daughter in a car crash and found the words "died" and "dead" felt like "another stab to my heart."
But Ms Allsopp found a powerful ally in Jeremy Clarkson, who declared on X: "I loathe 'passing'. Loathe it."
Dame Penelope was one of Britain's most cherished actresses, winning the hearts of millions as the wonderfully snobbish Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life.
She picked up a Bafta for that iconic role in 1977, followed by another the following year for her work in The Norman Conquests and Saving It For Albie.
Yup. With you on that too
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) June 29, 2026
The actress went on to star in To the Manor Born and enjoyed a career spanning theatre, television and documentaries.
Her contributions to drama and charity earned her a Damehood.
In one of her final television appearances in October 2025, she fronted The Good Life: Inside Out on U&Gold, reflecting on the sitcom's remarkable success.
Her The Good Life co-star Felicity Kendal was among the many famous faces who rushed to pay tribute to Ms Keith on Monday.
It seems I’ve stumbled across the most divisive issue of all time. Those who loathe the use of passed or passing in reference to death & those who prefer it. I’m in the loathe camp, I think it attempts to sweep away the profound significance of death, but it’s quite the debate
— Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) June 29, 2026
She said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope’s death.
“The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius.
“My heart goes out to her beloved Rodney at this time, theirs was a great love story and partnership.
"She was a joy to know and work with, and she will be much missed.”