Patricia Greene: Longest serving Archers star dies aged 95

The statement continued: “Ambridge will not be the same without him and all of us at BBC Radio 4 send our love and condolences to his family at this difficult time.”

In a statement, Jeremy Howe, an editor at The Archers, called Greene “a completely unique, magnificent and raucously funny raconteur” and described her portrayal of Jill as “terrific but also wonderfully warm, loving and tremendously entertaining.”

He added that it was “an incredible privilege to work with him.”

Greene joined The Archers after training at the Royal Center School of Speech and Drama in London.

The Archers is the longest-running daily radio serial, broadcasting since 1951.

It now airs six days a week, with 13-minute episodes following the lives of those living in the fictional farming village of Ambridge.

Greene, who was awarded the MBE in 1997, had other acting credits, including the ITV series Crossroads and the BBC programs Doctors and Casualty.

He moved into a care home in August 2023 but continued recording The Archers.