OHMYGOSSIP — June Spencer has quit ‘The Archers’ after 72 years.
The 103-year-old actress has appeared on the BBC Radio soap opera as Peggy Woolley since its first episodes in 1950 and is the second- longest serving soap actor in the world but announced on Monday (08.08.22) that she is retiring from the show and her final episode was broadcast on July 31.
In a statement, she said: “In 1950 I helped to plant an acorn. It took root and in January 1951 it was planted out and called ‘The Archers’. Over the years it has thrived and become a splendid great tree with many branches. But now this old branch, known as Peggy, has become weak and unsafe so I decided it was high time she ‘boughed’ out, so I have duly lopped her.”
June- who was given a a lifetime achievement award at the 2014 BBC audio drama awards and was made a CBE in the 2017 birthday honours for services to drama and charity – took a break from the show in 1954 but returned in 1961 and has spent a total of 65 years playing the role, so is beaten to the record by ‘The Archers’ Lesley Sawear, who has sent 67 years as Christine Barford .
‘The Archers’ editor Jeremy Howe said: “I think working with June Spencer has been one of the greatest privileges of my many decades in drama. Her Peggy is one of the great creations of broadcasting – utterly charming, utterly ruthless, sharp as a knife and witty in spades.
To think that June has commanded the airwaves over an Archers career of over 70 years beggars belief. I have rarely worked with such an inventive, focused and technically brilliant actor, or such a lovely person. Myself and The Archers’ team and cast wish June a well-deserved and long retirement – and I know that if she doesn’t think the show is up to the mark, June will be letting us know. Bravo the legend that is June Spencer.”
Meanwhile, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall – who once made a guest appearance as herself on the show – noted: “Peggy is a true national treasure who has been part of my life, and millions of others, for as long as I can remember.”

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