Paddy Higson OBE has died aged 83, her family have confirmed. The Scottish film star was reportedly "surrounded by love" in her final days as she battled cancer.

In a touching social media post on Facebook, her surviving children, Michael, Chris and Frances, penned: "Yesterday evening our mum’s battle with cancer reached its inevitable conclusion and she passed gently away surrounded by her family and so much love. Not only have the three of us lost our amazing and extraordinary mother, we as a wider community have lost a kind and generous, supportive and selfless pioneer."

They continued: "We are heartbroken but find comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering." They added that her funeral would be arranged in due course.

The BAFTA award winner was celebrated for her collaborations with director Bill Forsyth on iconic Scottish films such as the cult classic Gregory's Girl and was also a producer on Restless Natives. She’s also well known for her talent in producing pivotal episodes of Taggart, Monarch of the Glen, and Cardiac Arrest.

Following her retirement, Paddy took charge of the filmmaking charity Glasgow Media Access Centre (GMAC) and worked on the popular children's television programme Katie Morag. Through her role at GMAC, she helped to provide opportunities for young people to break into the television and filmmaking industries.

Higson was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2023 King’s New Years Honours List for her services to the Film and Television Industry and to Diversity and Inclusion in Film and Television.

Actor David Hayman led the tributes to the revered media veteran, describing the star as "the mother of the Scottish film industry." BAFTA Scotland also honoured Higson, describing her as a "pioneer of the Scottish screen industry."

In a statement, they said: "We were saddened to hear of the passing of Paddy Higson OBE. Higson was a trailblazer in the Scottish screen industry, having worked on Gregory's Girl, Restless Natives, and Taggart. She received the BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Scottish Industry in 2018."