As 2016 marks the 65th anniversary of radio drama The Archers, Sophie Farrah meets Barnes actress Buffy Davis, who plays Jolene, landlady of The Bull
BBC pictures
BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers began life as a dramatised public information programme with an aim to encourage farmers to increase production when food was still rationed after World War II. Now, 65 years on and more than 17,000 episodes later, it is the longest running broadcast drama in the world – and undoubtedly one of the most popular.
Described as a ‘contemporary drama in a rural setting’ the show attracts 4.8 million listeners each week and boasts a host of famous fans, including Stephen Fry, Fiona Bruce, Ewan McGregor, Kirstie Allsopp and even the Prince Of Wales.
One of the stars of the show is Barnes actress Buffy Davis, who has played the role of flirtatious country and western singer Jolene since 1995.
“Her real name is actually Doreen, but she doesn’t like that, she wants to be called Jolene – she is very keen on Dolly Parton,” laughs Buffy when I meet her. “For the audition I actually sang Blue Moon of Kentucky by Patsy Cline. I remember singing it very loudly in the car all the way up to Birmingham!
“Originally I did just a few episodes and then about a year later they asked me to come back and have an affair with Sid – so of course I did!’
Since then Jolene’s eventful and – at times – risqué way of life has made her one of the show’s most notable characters, particularly following that steamy shower scene with Sid in 2000, which set tongues wagging and even made headlines in the national press.
“Stephen Fry has described the shower scene as more frightening than Psycho!” Buffy laughs. “I ended up signing acres of shower tiles for people – it was bizarre...
BBC pictures
“I started the show as Jolene Rogers – not so much a name, and more a mission statement! Then I became Jolene Perks when I married Sid, but he died. Then I married Kenton Archer about 18 months ago, and became landlady of The Bull. So Jolene is quite respectable now!’
These days the show is broadcast twice a day Sunday to Friday, with an omnibus each Sunday. There is a ten-strong production team, an editor and 11 writers who plot the twists and turns of the families in Ambridge; they work months and sometimes even years ahead. Five weeks’ worth of Archers episodes are recorded in the course of just eight days.
“We record four episodes in a day,” Buffy explains, “and we get our scripts a few days in advance. I don’t get to leave the pub very often so when I go to Brookfield for example, that’s a big treat. I get so excited! I mean, it’s the same set but in my head when I walk into it, it’s Brookfield, it isn’t my pub.”
I am confused. Surely there is no set for a radio drama?
“No there is, sort of.’ Buffy laughs. ‘It’s the same set with lots of things in it. For example Brookfield has an AGA in it, but the AGA for me is part of my bar at The Bull. There actually is an AGA so you get all the right noises. But my Bull looks a certain way in my mind, and my vision of Brookfield is different to anyone else’s.”
I guess by now she has a very clear idea of what Jolene looks like.
‘Yes I have an image of who Jolene is, and she isn’t me! I do love her – she is a tart with a heart. Lots of low-cut tops and leopard print. I should point out that I don’t dress like that for the recordings. But for some publicity events I do... I do have cowboy boots!”
When Buffy isn’t busy pulling pints in Ambridge she can also be found on both the big and small screens, having appeared in Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley, The Machinist with Christian Bale, Holby City, Doctors and Silk. She also plays regular character Pippa Woodley on BBC One’s Cornish drama Doc Martin, starring Martin Clunes.
“It’s a wonderful job,” Buffy exclaims, “Martin is fantastic, Port Isaac is beautiful and the people are lovely.”
BBC pictures
She is also an accomplished theatre actress, having recently finished a stint in The Hairy Ape at The Old Vic, alongside Bertie Carvel. She also appeared there in Hedda Gabler starring Sheridan Smith, as well as in various productions at the Young Vic and the National Theatre.
“When you’re in front of a camera you do your best,” she says, “and then it’s up to the edit to tell the story. Nothing can beat delivering a line live on stage and knowing if you do it one way, it might get a laugh. The timing of a line! You can do the same with radio, which is great.”
Time off is spent at home in leafy Barnes, where she has lived for more than 20 years, having moved there from Brixton.
“I had only ever driven through Barnes and had always thought it was nice, I always thought it was a bit like the French Riviera!” she laughs.
“So we moved here and we love it. We’ve just finished building our own eco house. My husband (Derek Pearce) designed it and we built it ourselves. It’s cosy and comfortable and peaceful. I also row on the Thames from Barnes. It’s the best thing for your head, but you’ve got to respect that river!’
With 2016 such a landmark year for The Archers (the 18,000th episode is also due to be broadcast on June 7), can Buffy give us any hints?
“I can’t tell you about any storylines of course, but I think that there will be things of a celebratory nature happening in the village, put it that way!”
I know I’ll be tuning in.
You can listen to The Archers on BBC iPlayer
Check out Interviews Section for more great local celebrity chinwags
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on all the latest local Christmas events
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter for exclusive interviews, competitions and reader offers
