Last member of the original Archers cast dies aged 105

June Spencer voiced much-loved character Peggy Woolley

- JACOB STOLWORTHY

Actor June Spencer, who delighted listeners to The Archers including royalty - for decades with her role as strong-minded Peggy Woolley, has died at the age of 105. She was the last surviving member of the original cast of the BBC Radio 4 serial.

Her many fans over the years included Queen Camilla, who in 2021 invited her to Clarence House to mark the show’s 70th anniversary, calling her a “true national treasure who has been part of my life, and millions of others, for as long as I can remember”.

Spencer first appeared in The Archers’ pilot episode in 1950, and on air, her storylines saw her character deal with the fallout from alcoholism, gambling and bereavement.

A few years after the show’s launch in 1951, Spencer took a break to focus on her young family, and Thelma Rogers replaced her in the role. She returned in 1961 and remained in the role until her retirement in 2022.