Beloved soap star and theatre favourite Fay Lenore Scott has died at the age of 97, and tributes have been flowing in from those who knew her, worked with her and grew up watching her on screen. Best known for her roles in Crossroads and Take the High Road, Fay’s career stretched across more than six decades, a lifetime in entertainment that began before she could even walk.
Born Mary Leonora Faith Dodwell in March 1928, Fay came from a showbusiness family and seemed destined for the stage. She was just 18 months old when she first appeared in the theatre, already showing the confidence and spark that would stay with her for the rest of her life. Performing wasn’t something she grew into; it was simply part of who she was.
Although she worked across music halls, pantomime and variety shows, it was television soap drama that made her a familiar face in homes across the country. In the 1960s, she became a regular presence in Crossroads, one of Britain’s most watched and talked-about soaps at the time. Years later, she won over a new generation of viewers in Take the High Road, the much-loved Scottish series set in the Highlands during the 1980s.
Fay brought warmth and honesty to her soap roles. Her characters felt real, the kind of people viewers recognised and cared about. After years on stage, she took to television with ease, proving she was just as at home in front of the camera.
Away from the spotlight, Fay’s life was filled with love, but also heartbreak. She met her future husband, Jay Scott, a Highland Games champion, in 1957, and those close to them said it was love at first sight. They married the following year and went on to have two children, juggling family life with Fay’s busy career.
In the 1960s, the family moved to a home by a loch, where Jay began work on a nearby complex that later earned him a Civic Trust award. But their happiness was shattered when their family home was destroyed in a fire, forcing them to rebuild their lives from scratch.
More tragedy followed. After moving to a farm, Jay was badly injured in a serious tractor accident at just 42. Not long after, Fay herself was involved in a devastating car crash. Her injuries were so severe that surgeons had to rebuild her face, an experience that would have ended many careers.
But Fay was never one to give up. Driven by her love of performing, she returned to work and later appeared in Take the High Road during the 1980s. Her determination and resilience left a lasting impression.
Alongside her soap work, Fay also became a respected drama and singing teacher, sharing her knowledge with younger performers. Among those she coached was Susan Boyle, long before she became a household name.
In 1997, Fay lost Jay to a heart attack just days before his 67th birthday. In later years, she retired from full-time performance and settled in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, but she never truly left the stage behind.
She continued to make occasional appearances in local theatre productions, much to the delight of audiences. Her final public performance came in 2013, bringing her journey full circle, from child performer to soap star to cherished local figure.
A message shared by her family said they were heartbroken to announce that Fay passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, at Ythanvale Care Home in Ellon, aged 97. They said her ‘final curtain call’ will take place on February 6, in a service held to celebrate her life, with friends warmly invited to attend.
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The family asked for family flowers only, but said donations can be made in Fay’s memory to Friends of Ythanvale at the crematorium. They ended the notice with a touching tribute, saying: ‘May your star shine as bright in heaven as you did on Earth.’
Fay is survived by her daughter Shona, her son Rob, and her grandchildren, as well as what her family lovingly described as her ‘theatre family from across the world’. To many, she was far more than a soap star. She was a mentor, a survivor and a woman who never lost her love for telling stories.
Her life was one of talent, resilience and quiet strength. From the early days of theatre to the golden era of British soaps, Fay Lenore left a lasting mark, not just on television but on the people who watched her and worked beside her.
