Christine Barford (also Archer and Johnson) is a fictional character
from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers. The character
was introduced as the sister of Phil Archer in 1951, and the daughter
of Dan and Doris Archer. The character was a skilled horsewoman, who
for many years ran the Ambridge riding stables. British actress Lesley
Saweard has played the role since 1953. As of 2020, Saweard has played
the role for 67 years, making her the longest-serving soap opera actor
in the world.Saweard describes her character as a "likable, reliable,
capable person, very like her mother Doris" but who "sadly doesn’t
see much of her son Peter". The character lives with Peggy Woolley
(June Spencer) at The Lodge. Her character is nicknamed 'Auntie Chris'
by many of the characters in the show.The character of Christine
Archer was originally played by actress Pamela Mant when the series
when The Archers was first broadcast nationally from January 1, 1951.
Christine was a close friend of her brother Phil's future wife, Grace
Fairbrother. In late 1953, Saweard, aged 19, was asked to drive Denis
Folwell (who played Jack Archer) from Lincoln Station and take him to
a fete opening. He told Saweard how "similar her voice was to Pamela
Mant" to which Saweard replied: "let me know if she's ill". Mant would
leave the series abruptly that year, and at Denis's suggestion,
Saweard was asked to audition. The Archers official website says she
was "pronounced a perfect voice match and the change in actress went
unnoticed".Christine's first appearance was during a New Year's Eve
party at Brookfield Farm in 1951. The following year Christine would
start up the riding stables with her wealthy best-friend and
sister-in-law, Grace Archer. Sadness would follow, as she discovered
her boyfriend, Dick Raymond, was actually already engaged. This led
Christine to almost flee Ambridge and go travelling with the
mysterious Lady Hylberrow to Ethiopia. Tragedy would strike when Grace
will killed in a stable fire in 1955, trying to rescue Midnight,
Christine's horse. In 1956, Christine wed Paul Johnson, much to his
family's chagrin. The Johnson's believed they were in "social
superiority" to the Archers. The book, Who's Who in The Archers,
described Paul was a "flaky" husband. But the marriage was not without
its hiccups - with Christine accusing her husband of having an affair
with Marianne Peters. Paul lost his job in 1962, and forced Christine
to leave her stables business for Newmarket, where he would train as a
helicopter pilot. He later found life as a crop-dusting helicopter
pilot was not as glamorous, or well-paying, as he hoped, and the
couple moved back to Ambridge a year later. Christine and Paul never
had children, which made Paul become a father-figureto friend Carol's
fatherless son Richard. The couple decided to adopt, and welcomed
Peter into their home.
from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers. The character
was introduced as the sister of Phil Archer in 1951, and the daughter
of Dan and Doris Archer. The character was a skilled horsewoman, who
for many years ran the Ambridge riding stables. British actress Lesley
Saweard has played the role since 1953. As of 2020, Saweard has played
the role for 67 years, making her the longest-serving soap opera actor
in the world.Saweard describes her character as a "likable, reliable,
capable person, very like her mother Doris" but who "sadly doesn’t
see much of her son Peter". The character lives with Peggy Woolley
(June Spencer) at The Lodge. Her character is nicknamed 'Auntie Chris'
by many of the characters in the show.The character of Christine
Archer was originally played by actress Pamela Mant when the series
when The Archers was first broadcast nationally from January 1, 1951.
Christine was a close friend of her brother Phil's future wife, Grace
Fairbrother. In late 1953, Saweard, aged 19, was asked to drive Denis
Folwell (who played Jack Archer) from Lincoln Station and take him to
a fete opening. He told Saweard how "similar her voice was to Pamela
Mant" to which Saweard replied: "let me know if she's ill". Mant would
leave the series abruptly that year, and at Denis's suggestion,
Saweard was asked to audition. The Archers official website says she
was "pronounced a perfect voice match and the change in actress went
unnoticed".Christine's first appearance was during a New Year's Eve
party at Brookfield Farm in 1951. The following year Christine would
start up the riding stables with her wealthy best-friend and
sister-in-law, Grace Archer. Sadness would follow, as she discovered
her boyfriend, Dick Raymond, was actually already engaged. This led
Christine to almost flee Ambridge and go travelling with the
mysterious Lady Hylberrow to Ethiopia. Tragedy would strike when Grace
will killed in a stable fire in 1955, trying to rescue Midnight,
Christine's horse. In 1956, Christine wed Paul Johnson, much to his
family's chagrin. The Johnson's believed they were in "social
superiority" to the Archers. The book, Who's Who in The Archers,
described Paul was a "flaky" husband. But the marriage was not without
its hiccups - with Christine accusing her husband of having an affair
with Marianne Peters. Paul lost his job in 1962, and forced Christine
to leave her stables business for Newmarket, where he would train as a
helicopter pilot. He later found life as a crop-dusting helicopter
pilot was not as glamorous, or well-paying, as he hoped, and the
couple moved back to Ambridge a year later. Christine and Paul never
had children, which made Paul become a father-figureto friend Carol's
fatherless son Richard. The couple decided to adopt, and welcomed
Peter into their home.
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