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'I'm back as Clarrie – and I don't want to shock the fans' Archers actress: 'I'm back as Clarrie – and I don't want to shock fans'
(35 minutes later)
Clarrie Grundy has a coaxing, country voice that has helped to define the longest running drama series in broadcasting history. During the 33 years in which the kind-hearted character has entertained millions of listeners to BBC Radio 4's The Archers, she has lived through turbulent times: losing a farm, then her job, and battling to keep her sons on friendly terms.Clarrie Grundy has a coaxing, country voice that has helped to define the longest running drama series in broadcasting history. During the 33 years in which the kind-hearted character has entertained millions of listeners to BBC Radio 4's The Archers, she has lived through turbulent times: losing a farm, then her job, and battling to keep her sons on friendly terms.
Next month, after 25 years away from the rural soap opera, which peaked in popularity last year with a record five million listeners, the actress who originally created the role will once again take up Clarrie's imaginary apron strings.Next month, after 25 years away from the rural soap opera, which peaked in popularity last year with a record five million listeners, the actress who originally created the role will once again take up Clarrie's imaginary apron strings.
Heather Bell, who was given the part of Jethro Larkin's young daughter back in 1979, is to come home to the fictional village of Ambridge, while Rosalind Adams, who has played Clarrie for 25 years, is stepping down to spend more time with her real-life grandchildren.Heather Bell, who was given the part of Jethro Larkin's young daughter back in 1979, is to come home to the fictional village of Ambridge, while Rosalind Adams, who has played Clarrie for 25 years, is stepping down to spend more time with her real-life grandchildren.
"I do not want to shock the listeners," Bell told the Observer this weekend as she prepared for her first recording session back in the role. "I want to have a bit of Ros there, of course, so I have had lots of tapes to listen to, to soak up the way she played it.""I do not want to shock the listeners," Bell told the Observer this weekend as she prepared for her first recording session back in the role. "I want to have a bit of Ros there, of course, so I have had lots of tapes to listen to, to soak up the way she played it."
On 10 February, she will officially rejoin several original cast members on air, including June Spencer and Patricia Greene, who play Peggy Woolley and Jill Archer respectively.On 10 February, she will officially rejoin several original cast members on air, including June Spencer and Patricia Greene, who play Peggy Woolley and Jill Archer respectively.
"I was brought in all those years ago to be a wife for Eddie Grundy," said Bell. "We met in The Bull, I think, where I was a barmaid. Clarrie really wanted to get married and then she fell in love.""I was brought in all those years ago to be a wife for Eddie Grundy," said Bell. "We met in The Bull, I think, where I was a barmaid. Clarrie really wanted to get married and then she fell in love."
Bell, who grew up in the East End of London, originally copied the voice of the actor who was playing her father. "George Hart was the real thing. He was a country man who had not gone to drama school and had grown up in the right area. He was a gorgeous old man and I thought, well, he brought me up, so I will base the accent on him."Bell, who grew up in the East End of London, originally copied the voice of the actor who was playing her father. "George Hart was the real thing. He was a country man who had not gone to drama school and had grown up in the right area. He was a gorgeous old man and I thought, well, he brought me up, so I will base the accent on him."
When Adams took over the role, Bell suggested she should listen to recordings of Hart to get the match right. But now the muddy boot is on the other foot.When Adams took over the role, Bell suggested she should listen to recordings of Hart to get the match right. But now the muddy boot is on the other foot.
"When my script arrived I practised, but I found thinking about the voice was hampering me from playing the truth of the moment. So what I am going to do is not think about that at all. I am just going to be Clarrie and then hopefully there will be a lot of Ros in it from having listened to her.""When my script arrived I practised, but I found thinking about the voice was hampering me from playing the truth of the moment. So what I am going to do is not think about that at all. I am just going to be Clarrie and then hopefully there will be a lot of Ros in it from having listened to her."
Trevor Harrison, the actor who plays her hapless husband, was also there in 1979, but Bell thinks his character has developed. "The Grundys were a comedy-type family, but there has been a lot of serious drama over the years, so the character of Eddie has changed. But the family are able to bounce back. They are fighters."Trevor Harrison, the actor who plays her hapless husband, was also there in 1979, but Bell thinks his character has developed. "The Grundys were a comedy-type family, but there has been a lot of serious drama over the years, so the character of Eddie has changed. But the family are able to bounce back. They are fighters."
Bell finds it hard to explain Clarrie's loyalty to her husband, given his many fibs and schemes down the years. "Why does Clarrie love Eddie? Well, he is written as a lovable rogue and he has got a big heart. But more than anything he is on her side, no matter what."Bell finds it hard to explain Clarrie's loyalty to her husband, given his many fibs and schemes down the years. "Why does Clarrie love Eddie? Well, he is written as a lovable rogue and he has got a big heart. But more than anything he is on her side, no matter what."
Her character would only have dropped Eddie for Prince Charles, said Bell. "She loved Charles and I remember on the day the engagement to Lady Diana was announced I had to go to Pebble Mill to record a topical insert for the show. That edition ended with me singing Some Day My Prince Will Come instead of the Archers theme."Her character would only have dropped Eddie for Prince Charles, said Bell. "She loved Charles and I remember on the day the engagement to Lady Diana was announced I had to go to Pebble Mill to record a topical insert for the show. That edition ended with me singing Some Day My Prince Will Come instead of the Archers theme."
Bell believes actors stay with the show because of its place in British culture. "We love it for the same reason so many people listen. It is part of our national psyche. After all, the theme was even used in the Olympics opening ceremony," she said.Bell believes actors stay with the show because of its place in British culture. "We love it for the same reason so many people listen. It is part of our national psyche. After all, the theme was even used in the Olympics opening ceremony," she said.
After time spent working in theatre and on television, the actress who, at 68, is 10 years older than Clarrie, said she was "thrilled to be returning".After time spent working in theatre and on television, the actress who, at 68, is 10 years older than Clarrie, said she was "thrilled to be returning".
When Vanessa Whitburn, the long-time editor of the show, telephoned, Bell knew what she wanted. The part of Clarrie has been written out of recent episodes while a new actor was found. "I had to do quite a difficult audition, all the same. Because they had not heard me for a long time."When Vanessa Whitburn, the long-time editor of the show, telephoned, Bell knew what she wanted. The part of Clarrie has been written out of recent episodes while a new actor was found. "I had to do quite a difficult audition, all the same. Because they had not heard me for a long time."
Two key elements of the part will be make or break, Bell believes. First, she must think hard about the relationship with her two warring sons, Ed and Will, and, second, she must master Clarrie's pronunciation of her elder son's name. "The fans say I have got to say Woll'yam right."Two key elements of the part will be make or break, Bell believes. First, she must think hard about the relationship with her two warring sons, Ed and Will, and, second, she must master Clarrie's pronunciation of her elder son's name. "The fans say I have got to say Woll'yam right."