This is a list of many of the characters from the long-running British
radio soap The Archers.Jill Archer née Patterson (born 3 October
1930) (Patricia Greene) is the widow of Phil Archer and matriarch of
the family. She was his second wife, and with him had four children:
twins Shula and Kenton, and David and Elizabeth. She is busily
involved in village life and supports her children by taking on
child-minding duties. Jill is an active member of the Women's
Institute, opened up a holiday cottage business, and is teaching her
grandson, Josh, how to keep bees. Jill has a less traditional outlook
on life than her late husband, who had been a Justice of the Peace,
reflected in her opposition to both fox hunting and private education.
Following a burglary at Glebe Cottage she was asked by David and Ruth
to return to Brookfield which subsequently became permanent. In 2019,
she surprised her family by announcing that she had met a new man -
Leonard Berry, a widower who she met while visiting the Laurels. Since
then, Jill and Leonard have enjoyed a cosy companionship, complicated
slightly when Leonard thought Jill wanted them to get married - when
she made it clear that she had no desire to have another husband, they
happily resumed their relationship.Christine Barford née Archer,
formerly Johnson (born 21 December 1931) (Lesley Saweard, formerly
played by Pamela Mant and briefly Joyce Gibbs), is the younger sister
of Phil. A skilled horsewoman, she ran the local riding stables for
many years. In the early 1950s she was a close friend of Grace
Fairbrother who later married her brother Phil. Christine married Paul
Johnson; it was discovered she was infertile, and they adopted a son,
Peter. In the mid-1970s Paul deserted the family and he was later
killed in a helicopter crash in Germany. In 1979 Christine married
George Barford, a gamekeeper, which was seen as a class transgression,
even though her uncle, Tom Forrest was also a gamekeeper, and
colleague of her future husband. Her marriage to George lasted over 25
years and was happy, but latterly they experienced difficult times as
their house burned down due to an arson attack by Clive Horrobin.
George died peacefully whilst they were waiting for the house to be
re-built. Christine lived with Peggy Woolley for some years but in
2018 suffered a fall and went into The Laurels initially for respite
but is intending to take up a place in an assisted living flat. She
lost her capital in a fraud perpetuated by associates of Matt
Crawford.Peggy Woolley, née Perkins, formerly Archer (born Margaret
Perkins, 13 November 1924) (June Spencer, briefly played by Thelma
Rogers) is the widow of Phil's elder brother, Jack Archer, and of Jack
Woolley. When married to Jack Archer, they managed (and later owned)
the Bull. After many years of close friendship, Peggy married Jack
Woolley. Peggy has two daughters, Jennifer and Lillian, and a son,
Tony, by her first husband. She is indulgent of her grandchildren and
has provided several of them with significant financial support.
Although she was something of a left wing firebrand in her youth she
is now very conservative living in The Lodge which was the gatehouse
for Grey Gables.
radio soap The Archers.Jill Archer née Patterson (born 3 October
1930) (Patricia Greene) is the widow of Phil Archer and matriarch of
the family. She was his second wife, and with him had four children:
twins Shula and Kenton, and David and Elizabeth. She is busily
involved in village life and supports her children by taking on
child-minding duties. Jill is an active member of the Women's
Institute, opened up a holiday cottage business, and is teaching her
grandson, Josh, how to keep bees. Jill has a less traditional outlook
on life than her late husband, who had been a Justice of the Peace,
reflected in her opposition to both fox hunting and private education.
Following a burglary at Glebe Cottage she was asked by David and Ruth
to return to Brookfield which subsequently became permanent. In 2019,
she surprised her family by announcing that she had met a new man -
Leonard Berry, a widower who she met while visiting the Laurels. Since
then, Jill and Leonard have enjoyed a cosy companionship, complicated
slightly when Leonard thought Jill wanted them to get married - when
she made it clear that she had no desire to have another husband, they
happily resumed their relationship.Christine Barford née Archer,
formerly Johnson (born 21 December 1931) (Lesley Saweard, formerly
played by Pamela Mant and briefly Joyce Gibbs), is the younger sister
of Phil. A skilled horsewoman, she ran the local riding stables for
many years. In the early 1950s she was a close friend of Grace
Fairbrother who later married her brother Phil. Christine married Paul
Johnson; it was discovered she was infertile, and they adopted a son,
Peter. In the mid-1970s Paul deserted the family and he was later
killed in a helicopter crash in Germany. In 1979 Christine married
George Barford, a gamekeeper, which was seen as a class transgression,
even though her uncle, Tom Forrest was also a gamekeeper, and
colleague of her future husband. Her marriage to George lasted over 25
years and was happy, but latterly they experienced difficult times as
their house burned down due to an arson attack by Clive Horrobin.
George died peacefully whilst they were waiting for the house to be
re-built. Christine lived with Peggy Woolley for some years but in
2018 suffered a fall and went into The Laurels initially for respite
but is intending to take up a place in an assisted living flat. She
lost her capital in a fraud perpetuated by associates of Matt
Crawford.Peggy Woolley, née Perkins, formerly Archer (born Margaret
Perkins, 13 November 1924) (June Spencer, briefly played by Thelma
Rogers) is the widow of Phil's elder brother, Jack Archer, and of Jack
Woolley. When married to Jack Archer, they managed (and later owned)
the Bull. After many years of close friendship, Peggy married Jack
Woolley. Peggy has two daughters, Jennifer and Lillian, and a son,
Tony, by her first husband. She is indulgent of her grandchildren and
has provided several of them with significant financial support.
Although she was something of a left wing firebrand in her youth she
is now very conservative living in The Lodge which was the gatehouse
for Grey Gables.
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