June Spencer has died at the age of 105, with a statement from her family revealing she died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Friday.
“Her family would like to pay particular tribute and thanks to the staff team at Liberham Lodge, who so lovingly cared for her in the last two years,” it said.
Her family said they wanted to “pay particular tribute and thanks to the staff team at Liberham Lodge, who so lovingly cared for her in the last two years”.
Her character Peggy Woolley (formerly Archer) was often viewed as a traditionalist, conservative character in the long-running drama charting the ups and downs of life in fictional Ambridge.
She was one of the show’s original cast members, and said of her time on the show in 2019: “I had no idea I’d be ever be 100 for a start, let alone still working!
“It’s been marvellous, I hope I can keep on doing it for a bit, and perhaps set an example to older people who have just given up,” she said.
Three years later, when she did decide it was time to leave the show, 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.”
The actress played Peggy Archer in the BBC Radio series
BBC
She added that “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”.
Fans of the actress took to their X account to pay tribute towards her life and staggering career, as one penned: “I mean there’s a good innings, and a good innings.
“What a life! RIP June Spencer, Peggy Woolley might have got on my nerves, but that’s largely due to how beautifully you played her. Goodnight The Archers radio star June Spencer dies aged 105.”
The All About The Archers Podcast also shared their condolences and said: “We are so very sorry to learn of the death of June Spencer. We send our thoughts to her family, friends and of course #TheArchers family.”
She was the last cast member alive
BBC
Another expressed: “I had the delight of interviewing June Spencer (Peggy Archer) 2 years ago, when she broke the news to me of her retirement we met in her care home which she had just moved into because ‘making dinner every night gets boring when you’re 103’.”
“RIP June Spencer of The Archers aged 105. I still love this cheeky letter that she wrote to the @RadioTimes,” someone else recalled.
“Peggy was a great and lovely character! RIP June Spencer!” a fifth noted before a sixth wrote: “Saddened by the news of June Spencer’s death! She will always be a legend!” (sic)
The show’s current editor Jeremy Howe said working with her “was like working with a legend”.
He added: “June’s Peggy Woolley was and always will be the Queen of Ambridge, and with her death The Archers has lost its link with the birth of the show over 70 years ago. It is a humbling moment for us all.”
June starred on the show from 1951 to 2022
BBC
Paying tribute, Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya said: “June Spencer has been a longstanding presence and companion for Radio 4 listeners during her exceptional run on The Archers.
“Many have grown up with June as Peggy and listened as she journeyed through life’s many chapters, with all of its ups and downs. In her later years, her portrayal of a devoted wife caring for a husband with dementia, including their very moving final goodbye, was deeply poignant and powerful radio.
“We send all our love and condolences to June’s family and the many people whose lives she touched.”