Penelope Keith win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play "Donkeys' Years". She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom "The Good Life" (1975–78), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance. In 1978, she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for "The Norman Conquests". She then starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the sitcom "To the Manor Born" (1979–81), a show that received audiences of more than 20 million. She went on to star in another six sitcoms, including "Executive Stress" (1986–88), "No Job for a Lady"
To the Manor Born a programme to feature Keith. Thinking of Keith's character in "The Good Life", Spence had the idea of an upper-class version of Margo Leadbetter and, from the account from the comedian, came up with Audrey fforbes-Hamilton. Instead of a Cockney comedian as the new owner of the manor, Spence decided on an American who sees the manor while in England looking for his roots. The American later discovers he is descended from the fforbes-Hamiltons. This was made into a radio pilot in 1976 with Bernard Braden as the American, but was never broadcast because of the interest to make it