Patricia Greene, who held the title for the longest-serving soap actor in any medium, has died at the age of 95.
The star, who was known affectionately as Paddy, made her debut as the loving but stern matriarch Jill Archer in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers in 1957, and continued to play a prominent role on the soap for nearly 70 years up until her passing.
The news of her death was announced on Friday (10 July) at the end of the Today programme.
The announcement said: “Jill Archer was famed for her baking, while her lemon drizzle was her signature it was her flapjack that made the headlines when she was arrested at a protest over food waste.”
BBC Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya also praised Greene‘s “outstanding” contribution to the soap in a statement which read: “It has been a pleasure to hear her ever-evolving portrayal of Jill over the decades.
“She leaves a wonderful legacy. Ambridge will not be the same without her, and all of us here at BBC Radio 4 send our love and condolences to her family at this difficult time.”
Greene trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London before going on to pursue a career in acting.
Her first role in The Archers as Jill Archer, the matriarch of the titular Archer family who own the iconic Brookfield farm, launched her to fame.
Her character was involved in numerous big storylines over the years, including the loss of her husband Phil in 2010 following the passing of her co-star Norman Painting.
The soap opera, which was created by Godfrey Baseley, is the world’s longest running daily radio drama serial, having first been aired back in 1951.
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Other acting credits included the 1961 British film The Kitchen, the TV series It’s a Woman’s World and the ITV soap Crossroads, in which she had several roles between 1965 and 1969.
Greene, who was awarded an MBE in 1997, also appeared in BBC dramas Doctors and Casualty in 2000 and voiced Jill Archer in an episode of sitcom One Foot in the Grave.
In August 2023, Greene moved into a care home, where she continued to record The Archers.
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Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
