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Peggy Woolley

Margaret "Peggy" Beryl Woolley (also Perkins and Archer) is a fictional character from the BBC Radio 4 soap opera ''The Archers''. Portrayed by June Spencer for over 60 years, Peggy has served as the core family's – and by extension, the village's – matriarch. Until July 2022 Spencer was the only remaining member of the original cast. The character returned in a special prequel in 2025 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in which she was voiced by Emerald O'Hanrahan, who also voices Emma Grundy in ''The Archers''. The prequel takes place five years before ''The Archers''.

''The Independent'' newspaper has called Peggy "a fixture in the kitchens and sitting rooms of middle England since Clement Attlee was prime minister" and has a voice that is the "epitome of reassurance'. BBC Radio 4 calls the character a "traditionalist" who makes her "opinions known to her children if she felt they were contravening her strict moral code". Other commentators have labelled her as a "gangsta granny" and a "wealthy widow who lives in a grand house and controls family members using her money". Spencer also recorded episodes as Peggy at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Spencer originally spent three years in the role, starting in 1950, until quitting the serial in 1953, and being replaced by Thelma Rogers. Spencer twice returned to ''The Archers'' in the following years to play another character, Rita Flynn, and was part of the cast when Rogers vacated the role of Peggy in 1962. Spencer swiftly resumed the role of Peggy. The character has been a widow twice, first to Jack Archer, and later Jack Woolley, suffered a stroke, raised children and run a pub. In 2018, Spencer said one of her goals was to celebrate her 100th birthday in June 2019, while still performing in ''The Archers'', a feat which she achieved. In December 2021, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall marked the 70th anniversary of ''The Archers'', and helped Spencer, then 102 years old, cut the cake. Provided by Wikipedia