Patricia Gallimore (aka Pat Archer)
She may not have made Woman's Hour's, but Pat Archer would be sitting near the top of our Archers Power List.
Patricia Gallimore (aka Pat Archer) shares her thoughts about life, playing Pat, and the big changes in store at Bridge Farm …
Last year we did an indepth interview with Patricia on 40 years of Pat and Tony. You can also read our Q&A with Patricia from 2013.
Since then, a lot has happened to the Bridge Farm Archers. Not least, the big announcement that Pat and Tony are stepping back and handing control of the farm over to their children Helen and Tom...
How do you feel about Pat and Tony ‘stepping back’?:
It’s an interesting time for Bridge Farm. I suppose it is the end of an era. But it could also be a time for new beginnings, new ideas. In the handover, there may be ups and downs. It wouldn’t be like Bridge Farm not to have ups and down, would it?! It has been a disaster-prone farm over the years.
We seem to be in another process of farms going through change, now that Pat and Tony have told Tom and Helen that they’re handing over the reins. I hope that even if they have taken a step back, their voices will still be important on the farm. It’s all about surviving and coming through.
What do you think about Pat’s evolution as a character?
Pat has been part of my life for a long time. Of course you bring a lot of your own life and experiences in to it. I was newly married when I came into the programme – then Pat married. I then had two children - Pat had three. We have very different lifestyles of course (I’m an actor, not a farmer!)
Pat was very radical and freethinking, supporting women’s lib and Greenham Common. She has mellowed a bit, but I like to think she’s still got that fire and passion. These have helped her survive all the crises – the death of John, Pat’s mental health, Helen’s pregnancy… I think she’s great and I enjoy playing her. She can be maddening – but we all can.
Pat and Tony have had their happy moments as well. Finding their grandson - and the arrival of Johnny on to the farm - have been great, spicing things up and giving Tony another ‘son’ figure to bond with.
Pat certainly hasn’t lost her fire – she didn’t approve when Helen decided to stop working in order to spend more time at home. Here’s a clip from Oct 2014:
Pat Archer complains about Helen - October 2014
How have you found working with David Troughton (who took over the role of Tony from Colin Skipp 2014):
Colin and I had worked together for 40 years. It was very sad that he had to retire, but we’ve kept in touch and I know he had good reasons and it was the right time for him. I feel lucky that along came David to take over the role.
David had done a lot of research about the character. Over a long lunch he had a list of questions to ask me about Pat and Tony’s history – which put me on my toes! He came in to the role full of enthusiasm – he’s a lovely company man, having worked with theatre companies like the RSC.
Read a recent interview with David Troughton.
As actors, we all love our fictional families – we get on well. It’s nice that we’re not together all the time. We pick up with each other once a month, as with the recording schedule, and catch up on life.
What are the big storylines that have affected you recently?:
The big storyline, personally, was Tony’s accident and recovery. Just when you thought everything was all lovely, wretched old Otto nearly killed Tony. That was a good, emotional storyline. Also, it wasn’t so long ago we had the e-coli story and the farm was threatened. There are still problems to iron out after the bull attack. Pat and Tony are the great survivors.
For once, though, Bridge Farm seemed to be luckier than most during and after the flood – with the new developments around the Farm shop.
What have you been up to outside of Ambridge?:
While Pat and Tony were on holiday recently I went off to New York, where my daughter lives, and we welcomed a new grandchild into the world. So he (Oscar) is my third.
Work-wise, I’ve narrated well over 200 audiobooks and am delighted to have recently won my second award. The first one was for Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend, and the one I’ve just won is for an historical romance by Janet Wood called Tall Poppies. When I’m not doing The Archers and audiobooks, I’m involved with my family.
Finally, something we might not know about you?...
I’ve now worked with three generations of Troughtons. Way back in the late sixties I played Mary Yellan in a radio serialisation of Jamaica Inn with Patrick Troughton, David's father. It was my first lead in a classic serial and he was lovely!
