The mother of comedian Tracey Ullman has been killed in a fire caused by the 'careless disposal ' of a cigarette . Mrs Ullman has been left 'deeply saddened ' after discovering Doreen Skinner died in the fire at her ground-floor retirement flat in Holtspur , Buckinghamshire , on Monday . The 85-year-old was discovered by firefighters around 11.20pm . The comedian allegedly visited the building - which has 28 flats for the over 55s - on Thursday to survey the damage , according to residents . Earlier this month it was revealed Mrs Ullman - left in 1982 , right in January this year - is to make a new six-part BBC One series , The Tracey Ullman Show , almost 30 years after she moved across the Atlantic . She became a huge star in the UK and the United States in the 1980s . Earlier this month it was revealed the 55-year-old is to make a new six-part BBC One series , The Tracey Ullman Show , almost 30 years after she moved across the Atlantic . A spokesman for Mrs Ullman today said : 'Tracey and her family are deeply saddened by the death of her mother , Doreen . 'The family would like to thank everyone for the kind messages they have received and ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time . ' Mrs Ullman , who was born in Slough , Berkshire , described her mother in a previous interview as 'very funny ' . She said : 'My mother was always doing strange things like driving parts around for a garage , all covered in oil . 'But she was very funny and our defence against hardship was having a great sense of humour . 'Mum worked in a laboratory , testing food , and would bring home samples for our dinner . Sometimes she 'd have to report that formula X had been found unfit for human consumption . ' One of Mrs Skinner 's neighbours said : 'The fire started in the middle of the night and the poor lady died . We are all very shocked . ' Another added : 'One of her daughters was here . I do n't know if it was Tracey Ullman because I did n't see her myself . ' A spokesman for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that a cigarette had started the fire in the bedroom late on Monday night . 'Crews from Beaconsfield and High Wycombe were called to an address in Kiln Court at 11.21pm after an automatic fire alarm activated . The fire had started in the bedroom . 'Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and dealt with the fire and discovered a body . The flat is one of 28 designed for over 55s in the area . Its windows are still blacked out from the smoke ( above ) 'Investigations have concluded that this fire was caused by careless disposal of cigarettes . 'This covers a number of scenarios , including falling asleep while smoking and not putting cigarettes out properly . ' Roger Brinklow , group commander at the rescue service , added : 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends , and the local community . ' The investigation into Mrs Skinner 's death has been passed to the coroner who opened an inquest yesterday .
Doreen Skinner died in her ground-floor flat on January this year around 11.20pm . Mrs Ullman described her mother in a previous interview as 'very funny '