Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | T | The Daily Mail (London, England)

THE AMBRIDGE ADULTERER; He had an extra-marital affair that shocked Britain - all acted out in front of his wife. But his amorous adventures as Brian Aldridge on The Archers are tame compared to his real life. Just ask matron - and the vicar!

Article Excerpt
Byline: by Charles Collingwood

WHEN The Archers celebrated its 50th anniversary, the producers devised a storyline which put me in a rather delicate situation. To boost listening figures in that landmark year of 2001, they decided that Brian Aldridge, the farmer I have played for more than three decades, should have an affair with Siobhan Hathaway, the local doctor's wife.

It was by no means the first affair enjoyed by the JR of Ambridge, as he is known to the five million listeners of the show, the longestrunning soap opera in the world. Back in 1985, he'd had an extra-marital dalliance with horsey Caroline Bone, played by the lovely Sara Coward, but that was rather a chaste relationship.

If any smooching was required, Sara and I stood at separate microphones and demurely kissed the backs of our own hands. That was fine in those days of mono recordings, but not with modern stereo because if the actors are on different microphones, two feet apart, that's exactly what it sounds like.

This time the kissing had to be for real, and I was fortunate that Caroline Lennon who plays Siobhan is not only a talented actress but very beautiful. Unlike Siobhan, who was quite a hard character, she is very warm and giggly, so we had a great laugh playing the romantic scenes.

A lot of the action seemed to happen in the backs of taxis, so there was much heavy breathing, and 'this shouldn't be happenings' and 'Ooh, Brian, stop it, Brian'.

Our audience figures soared, and much of Britain seemed to be talking about the scandal, but I wonder what listeners would have made of what was really happening in the studio.

There we were, each of us holding our script in one hand and a pencil in the other, as we kissed and said our lines. The problem was that, like Brian, I am in my 60s and I have to wear spectacles when I read.

Inevitably Caroline's script would hit my glasses and they would fall off, or she'd kiss me particularly well and they'd steam up...