In 1984 for the first time a member of the royal family took part in a 成人快手 drama when Princess Margaret played herself in an episode of the long running soap opera The Archers. The brief scene featured the princess as a surprise guest at a fundraising fashion show held in Ambridge.
The fictional fundraiser was in aid of the NSPCC, and the original plan was for the Duke of Westminster to appear in his capacity as chairman of the charity, at the invitation of Caroline Bone, who was a relation in the fiction. However, when Princess Margaret was informed she asked to take part too, in her role as NSPCC president.
Rather than travel to Birmingham for the recording the library at Kensington Palace stood in for Grey Gables. Producer William Smethurst said the Princess quickly mastered the microphone techniques required for radio drama.
The Princess's appearance cemented The Archers' reputation and position in the soap opera firmament. Although the first member of the royal family to take part in The Archers, she was not the only real person to appear as themselves, and over the years other guests included Gilbert Harding, John Peel, Britt Ekland, Alan Titchmarsh and Humphrey Lyttelton.
June anniversaries
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Juke Box Jury
1 June 1959 -
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
2 June 1953 -
Mock the Week
5 June 2005 -
Real Lives
5 June 1984 -
D-Day broadcasts
6 June 1944 -
Till Death Us Do Part
6 June 1966 -
First broadcast of Crimewatch UK
7 June 1984 -
Steptoe and Son
7 June 1962 -
Driving School
10 June 1997 -
Last programme from Lime Grove Studios
13 June 1991 -
The Basil Brush Show
14 June 1968 -
Blackadder
15 June 1983 -
Yesterday's Men
17 June 1971 -
De Gaulle's first broadcast to France
18 June 1940 -
Parkinson first broadcast
19 June 1971 -
First female newsreader in vision
20 June 1960 -
Wimbledon first televised
21 June 1937 -
Royal Family first transmitted
21 June 1969 -
Music While You Work
23 June 1940 -
Our World
25 June 1967 -
Opening of Television Centre
29 June 1960