Patricia Greene, the longest continuously serving actor in BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, has died aged 95. The star, whose death was announced on Friday, played Jill Archer, a mother known for her lemon drizzle cake, from 1957 until her death.
Editor pays tribute
Jeremy Howe, editor of The Archers, said: “Paddy (her nickname) was utterly singular, a fabulous and raucously funny raconteur, and like the best actors when on mic you were never quite sure how she would play a scene, but you knew she would play it brilliantly. Her portrayal of Jill Archer was formidable, but also wonderfully warm and loving, and enormous fun – Paddy could find a laugh in a simple ‘but’.”
Howe added: “It was an incredible privilege to work with her and she will be greatly missed by all of us within the production team, as well as by millions of Archers listeners.”
Character history
Greene’s character Jill was orphaned and brought up by her aunt before coming to Ambridge, the fictional village where the soap is set. There she caught the eye of recently widowed Phil Archer, played by Norman Painting, who proposed. Initially she refused, but in 1957 the couple married. They had four children: twins Kenton and Shula, David, and Elizabeth. Jill also served on the parish council and was a driving force in the Women’s Institute on the show.
Radio 4 controller's statement
Mohit Bakaya, controller of Radio 4, said: “Paddy’s contribution to The Archers over almost 70 years has been outstanding. She has been a constant companion in Radio 4 listeners’ lives, and it has been a pleasure to hear her ever-evolving portrayal of Jill Archer over the decades. She leaves a wonderful legacy. Ambridge will not be the same without her, and all of us here at Radio 4 send our love and condolences to her family at this difficult time.”
Early life and career
Greene was born in Derby in 1931 and dreamed of becoming an actor from an early age. After working in a sheet metal factory and as a ward orderly in a children’s hospital, she trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and later joined The Archers. Alongside the soap, she appeared in many radio and TV plays and was in the film version of Arnold Wesker’s The Kitchen. Greene was reportedly moved to a care home in 2023 but continued to record the show.
The Archers legacy
The Archers has aired on BBC radio since 1951 and has clocked up more than 20,000 episodes – more than any other continuous drama serial in the world. It reaches millions of devoted fans who tune in to hear the ups and downs of the residents of Ambridge. The show has tackled pressing topical issues such as climate change, economic challenges faced by farmers, alcoholism, modern slavery, domestic abuse, and coercive control.
