The life and times of...
DAVID
1959
Born to Gill and Phil Archer, four years after Phil’s first wife, Grace, died in a stable fire
1988
Marries Ruth, a feisty agriculture graduate from Northumberland
2000
Ruth is diagnosed with breast cancer. “There’s this worry, from David’s point of view, that the cancer might come back,” Tim says
2001
David and Ruth go into selfisolation following a foot-and-mouth outbreak at Brookfield
2011
David persuades his brother-in-law Nigel Pargetter to climb onto the roof of Lower Loxley. Nigel falls and plummets to his death. “We all have the sword of Damocles hanging over us,” Tim says
2015
Ruth has a near affair with cowman Sam. “That was a turning point for my interpretation of David,” Tim says. “He is tough physically, but emotionally delicate. Ever since then, he’s felt he’s got to be the best husband in the world”
2021
The Archers relies on suspense about what is going to come next. It wouldn’t be for us to spoil it…
TIM
1953
Born on a sheep station in Tasmania. Family soon return to the UK, settling in Hertfordshire, where Tim helps out on a farm
1970s
Trains in acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he befriends Daniel Day-lewis among others
1982
Joins BBC Radio 4’s
The Archers as David Archer
1983-1985
Plays a cavalier hero in BBC drama By The Sword Divided
1990-2006
Provides the voice of “Mind the Gap” on the London Underground’s Piccadilly Line
2012
Wins Celebrity Mastermind. His specialist subject is Winnie-the-pooh
2017
Brings out his autobiography,
Being David Archer: And Other Unusual Ways of Earning a Living
2018
Appointed MBE for services to drama
2018
Plays leading role in new play Brexit at the Edinburgh Fringe
2021
Takes a role in The Nevers, a sci-fi series for HBO