‘Sexy blonde’ past of Archers matriarch Jill
AS BELOVED matriarch to a nation of Radio 4 listeners, Jill Archer is known to millions as a voice of reason, home cook extraordinaire, and the beating heart of Ambridge itself.
They may be surprised to learn that her character was originally conceived as little more than a “sexy blonde”.
Patricia Greene, the actress who has played her since 1957, disclosed that she was originally asked to audition for a part described simply as “a sexy blonde in a tea tent” destined for a shortlived romantic affair with the show’s patriarch Phil.
Six weeks later, she said, the editor changed his mind and told her: “Congratulations. Cut the sex, you’re going to marry him.”
She has since gone on to be one of most enduring characters on The Archers , appearing on Radio 4’s Desert
Island Discs today in honour of her longevity.
In an interview with Kirsty Young, the 84-year-old admitted she had had no experience with radio broadcasting when she was invited to audition for The Archers , claiming her drama school teacher had proclaimed she had no future in the industry and likened her to a “fairy in hockey boots”.
“I was totally useless,” she said. “They said, ‘you’re coming in as a love interest for Philip; six weeks only; a sexy blonde in a tea tent’.” She initially declined the offer, but the BBC agreed to wait for her to finish a theatre tour, offering her a seven guinea fee per episode.
At the audition, she said, she channelled the husky tones of actress Fenella Fielding and secured herself the job. “I really didn’t know anything,” Greene said, adding that she eventually won over Godfrey Baseley, creator of The Archers .
“After my first six weeks, which were horrible and I couldn’t do anything, he came in and said: ‘Congratulations. Cut the sex, you’re going to marry him’.” She has now played the part for 58 years, but despite her seniority, Greene claims even she dare not make suggestions about plot lines, interjecting only “if it’s something like going into the Bull and saying I’d like a sweet sherry, when we know very well Jill likes dry sherry”.
Asked about a storyline featuring domestic abuse between Rob Titchener and Helen, which has left listeners irate, she said: “I’m really pleased about the Titchener story because I think this business about bullying wives and being nasty to wives, it’s time it was aired.”
Archers at 65: Living