Edward Kelsey, who played Joe Grundy on BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, has died at the age of 88.
The actor joined the long-running radio soap in 1985, after taking over the role from Haydn Jones.
In a statement, Kelsey’s family said that he “counted himself immensely lucky” to have a “long and varied career” in acting.
“Ted counted himself immensely lucky that he was able to enjoy a long and varied career doing the thing that he loved, entertaining an audience, and fortunate indeed to have met and worked with so many talented, generous, creative people along the way,” they said.
“He embodied the principle that the show must always go on – his chief concern through increasing ill health the need to convince medical staff he was fit enough to record with his ‘extended family’ in Birmingham.”
Archers editor Jeremy Howe said: “Ted’s time in Ambridge gave us one of the great performances in the history of British radio – idiosyncratic, warm, cantankerous yet generous, dripping with the Grundy magic and wonderfully funny.
“Ted’s Joe Grundy was a brilliant creation because Ted was a brilliant actor – and a truly lovely man and great company member. A cherished part of our team, I am sure all of us will agree that working with Ted was a rare privilege and he will be very much missed.”
Kelsey was born in Petersfield, Hampshire in 1930, and also voiced the characters Colonel K and Baron Silas Greenback on cult favourite animation DangerMouse.
He made TV appearances in British series including The Avengers, Z-Cars, Doctor Who and The Vicar of Dibley.
The official Archers Twitter account shared a tribute to the star earlier today, which read: “We’re remembering ‘Ted,’ Edward Kelsey, who died peacefully yesterday.
“Ted played Joe Grundy for 34 years and was a much-loved and respected member of our Ambridge family.”
