Main content

Patricia Greene

Kirsty Young interviews Patricia Greene, who plays Jill in the Archers.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is Patricia Greene.

For nearly sixty years she has played the role of Jill in Radio 4's The Archers which celebrates its 65th anniversary on January 1st 2016. Over the decades the storylines have followed her character through one marriage, four children and since 2010, widowhood.

Born in Derby in 1931, Paddy's love of acting began early on inspired by her father who was a keen amateur actor. As an only and independent child she was surrounded by the adult world and would often eavesdrop as she hid under the kitchen table. Her parents loved entertainment and would take her to the cinema every week to see Hollywood romances or comedies.

After attending a grammar school she went to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 1951. She wanted to be a classical actress, but then a phone call from the Archers production office changed her career path and she joined the cast initially on a six week contract in 1957. Her character Jill went onto marry the farmer Phil Archer, and is still there with a recent storyline seeing her return to Brookfield, the family farm.

Patricia has been married twice and was widowed in 1986. She was awarded an MBE in 2007.

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

New Year's Day 2016 09:00
成人快手 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Commander Chris Hadfield

Next

Colm Toibin

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Clip

Music Played

  • Emil Wolk & John Bardon

    Brush Up Your Shakespeare

    • Kiss Me Kate 1987 Royal Shakespeare Company Cast.
    • First Night Records.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68

    Conductor: Bernard Haitink. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Beethoven Symphonies Nos 2 & 6.
    • LSO Live.

  • Grimethorpe Colliery Band

    En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor

    • Brassed Off: Music From the Original Soundtrack.
    • BMG.

  • Nat King Cole

    Unforgettable

    • The Essential Nat King Cole.
    • Emporio.

  • Test Match Special 'Leg Over' Commentary, 09/08/1991

  • Charles Trenet

    叠辞耻尘聟!

    • Charles Trenet.
    • EMI.

  • Kiri Te Kanawa & London Symphony Orchestra

    聭Yes. They Call Me Mimi聮

    Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • La Boh猫me.
    • Erato.

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Jean Sibelius

      Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 (4th Movement)

      Performer: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
      • Sibelius: Symphonie NR. 2.
      • Deutsche Gramophon.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

  • LUXURY ITEM

    A sack of bird food

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Patricia Greene
Producer Sarah Taylor

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Dec 2015 11:15
    成人快手 Radio 4 FM
  • New Year's Day 2016 09:00
    成人快手 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast