Debbie! (our woman in a crisis)
Andrew Smith
Assistant Producer, The Archers
Tamsin Greig - The Archers
"Debbie!" -
Definition: An exclamation or cry of great joy. Used in multiples and/or capitals to express ever greater quantities of pleasure.
Well, so says the Archers’Listener Guide to Euphemisms.
Tamsin Greig on Debbie:
Debbie Aldridge is the sharp-witted, independent, farmer business-woman, step-daughter of a wealthy capitalist farmer philanderer. She likes to ride her horse, her life and her family with expert control.
Find out more about Debbie – and Tamsin – in our Who’s Who.
Low points?:
Debbie has been called in by Brian to sort things out between him and Adam. She's had her own crises, of course, not least in her love life:
The abusive Simon Pemberton: The Grundys suffered a disastrous fire in their milking parlour, losing equipment and 34 cattle. Simon Pemberton, now the Estate owner, seized the opportunity to get rid of them on the pretext that it was through their own neglect. When he lost at a tribunal, he savagely turned on his then girlfriend Debbie Aldridge.
Shula encouraged Debbie to report the assault. To general dismay, Simon escaped with a £200 fine. But it spelled the end of his association with Ambridge.
The irresistible Simon Gerrard: An on-off relationship with older lecturer Simon resulted in marriage. They divorced after three years and his affair with a woman called Jeanette - the wife of his Head of Department. Simon had managed to crawl back into Debbie's arms, saying he wanted to start a family - but kept the affair going until he was caught out. Brenda Tucker was also attracted to Simon, and for a time Brian and Debbie suspected them of seeing each other - this was all cleared up though.
...perhaps dating men who aren't called Simon was a step in the right direction for Debbie (no offence to any lovely Simons out there).
Highlights?:
These obviously include her successful career and opportunities to travel. For us, though, it's her quick wit and turn of phrase - a call back to Home Farm usually includes a stinging or sarcastic one-liner to Brian.
Debbie hands over the arable
Four things you might not know about young Deborah Aldridge…
1-Adam and Debbie’s joint management of the land started early: In 1977, 7 year old Debbie and her 9 year old half brother were both given a corner of the garden to cultivate (they started with lettuces, one of which Debbie gave as a gift to Peggy).
2- Debbie's first pony was called Moonbeam - bought for 63 guineas at the Horse Fair by Brian and Jennifer.
3- Debbie seems a bit more certain than Tamsin Greig when it comes to making career decisions. Here’s an interview from BBC Radio 4’s Front Row (listen from 6’30 for the whole feature/ from 14’10 for Tamsin on her own career choices).
4- Debbie was briefly in love with Gary Horrobin - brother of Susan Carter. Whatever happened to him?...*
*Gary has always lived at home with dad Bert. He enjoys a drink at the Dog and Trumpet. Ah, Debbie - think of the life you might have had... oh wait, we've covered that story haven't we:
"I'm related to a Horrobin!"
- Jennifer Aldridge (Aug, 2010)
