Graham Roberts was in The Archers for 31 years

Roberts joined the long-running BBC Radio 4 soap in 1973 and stayed for 31 years, after initially being told his character was needed for two weeks.

His also appeared in a number of film and television shows, including Z Cars, A Touch of Brass, A Taste of Honey and This Sporting Life.

Roberts, who was married to soprano Yvonne Robert, lived near York.

Roberts also recorded more than 100 unabridged audio books which are sold worldwide, including Rumpole of the Bailey, the Heartbeat novels and The Morecambe and Wise Biography.

His radio work includes a long list of plays for BBC Radios 3 and 4 and introducing Radio 3's Your Concert Choice.

For many years he was a continuity announcer on ITV stations Yorkshire and Grampian.