Dame Thora Hird was considered a national treasure

Dame Thora, who died aged 91 in March 2003, played Dolly in a monologue written by Alan Bennett.

The Last Of The Sun, which will be repeated on Sunday night, is the first original drama commission for station.

Bennett said Dame Thora "goes down with all flags flying, game to the last" in the drama, which was recorded nine months before her death.

Dame Thora, who was regarded as one of Britain's best-loved actresses, had a long professional relationship with Bennett.

She won two Bafta TV awards for her performances in Bennett's Talking Heads monologues A Cream Cracker Under the Settee and Waiting for the Telegram.

Last of the Sun sees Dame Thora as a pensioner living in a retirement home, experiencing unexpected attention from other residents.

Bennett said: "Knowing this was the likely to be the last work that Thora would do, I wanted her to go out with a bang and certainly with a laugh, even if it was a dirty one.