BBC legend Enyd Williams, who was best known for bringing the works of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and other crime authors to life as a director of radio dramas for the broadcaster, died on Thursday June 18 at the age of 83. Her death is only being revealed now, and the cause has been confirmed as heart failure.

She enjoyed huge success with her versions of all 12 of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple novels, which aired between 1993 and 2001. She cast British acting icon June Whitfield in the role and this, coupled with incredibly faithful adaptations, proved a massive hit with BBC Radio 4 audiences. With her trademark wit, June quipped of the role: "Fortunately, I did not have to worry about people comparing the way I looked [to other adaptations]. I simply concentrated on Miss Marple’s busybody personality to conjure up a new picture in the minds of listeners."

Born in Liverpool to Welsh parents, Enyd went to primary school with two future Beatles – Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

She began her career on the other side of the microphone, acting in Children’s Hour on BBC radio in Manchester. When she left secondary school, she continued to act with parts in BBC dramas

Producer Alfred Bradley recognised her wider interest in production, and she followed his suggestion to become a studio manager, working for the World Service, then the BBC in Cardiff, which ultimately led her to her career in radio drama.

In 1979, she became a radio drama producer for BBC Wales before moving to London as a producer and director three years later. From 1991 until 1998, she produced and directed almost half of Radio 4’s adaptations of the four Sherlock Holmes novels and 56 short stories. She retired in 2007 but, never one to rest on her laurels, continued to work directing audiobook productions.

Tributes flooded in as friends and fans learned the sad news. Fellow BBC Radio 4 star Russell Davies paid tribute to Enyd on X, writing: "Very sad to learn that my old friend Enyd Williams, great BBC drama director for decades, died recently. And sadder again that I can't be at her funeral/celebration at the Actors' Church on the 24th, as I'm in Brum doing Brains of Britain. Please go if like me you loved Enyd."

Writer Bert Coules shared: "I've just heard the sad news that Enyd Williams, the prolific and much-loved BBC radio drama producer-director, has died. I worked with Enyd for many years on projects great and small. Happy, and as she herself once said, golden times."

A third person chimed in: "So upset to hear this. A lovely, lovely lady... I spent a couple of wonderful lunches in her company. What a life she lived. Kept in touch ever since, was always a joy to speak with her..."

Meanwhile, another fan observed: "Sorry to hear about this. I always associate Enyd with all those Christie adaptations with John Moffatt as Poirot and the inspired casting of June Whitfield as Marple."