The Archers star Ysanne Churchman has died peacefully at home at the age of 99.
The actress had a career spanning 50 years and voiced Grace Archer in the Radio 4 drama in the 1950s.
She died at home on July 4, a statement from the BBC on behalf of her family said.
The Archers’ current editor Jeremy Howe said: ‘We are saddened by the death of Ysanne Churchman, whose role as the inimitable Grace Archer captured the nation.
Ysanne Churchman during an interview with the BBC in 2015. She died peacefully at home on July 4
The actress had a career spanning 50 years and voiced Grace Archer in the Radio 4 drama in the 1950s
Ysanne Churchman pictured with her radio husband Norman Painting (Phil Archer)
‘In the 1950s, Ysanne was at the heart of one of Ambridge’s most shocking storylines, with listeners so distraught at her character’s death they subsequently jammed BBC switchboards.
‘Ysanne was a wonderful actress and off air she campaigned tirelessly for equal pay for women in the industry.
‘She will be much missed by all at The Archers and our hearts are with her friends and family.’
In 1951, Churchman, then aged 26, joined the cast of The Archers.
But four years later on September 22, 1955, her character was killed in a stable fire.
Her death was listened to by more than 20million people.
It overshadowed the launch of ITV and became the talk of the nation.
Some even speculated that it was a deliberate ploy by the BBC to overshadow the launch of their rival.
Sean O’Connor, who edited The Archers between 2013 and 2016, dismissed the suggestion that Grace’s death was a tactic against ITV.
He told the Radio Times: ‘That is the folklore I inherited, and is what most of the people on the show believe, apart from the senior executives who knew the truth.
‘But there were slightly different versions of that truth, some of them more melodramatic than others.’
Writing in The Times following Churcman’s death, he recalled meeting the actress.
O’Connor said: ‘Grace’s death was nothing to do with the launch of ITV or the dwindling number of radio licences.
‘She explained that the editor and creator of the programme, Godfrey Baseley, had a personal vendetta against her.
‘Her departure from the programme was a result of what we would now regard as workplace bullying.’
Thousands of distraught listeners jammed the BBC switchboard for 48 hours.
The storyline saw Grace leave a dinner party to retrieve an earring she thought she left in the car.
She noticed the stables were on fire and rushed in to rescue the horses.
But the building collapsed on her and she was rushed to hospital, sadly dying on the way in Phil’s arms telling him she loved him.
They had only been married for six months.
Churchman also continued to be involved with The Archers and voiced five other characters, the last being Mary Pound in 1983
Churchman was involved with Dr Who and voiced alien Alpha Centauri in a 2017 episode
Actors Ysanne Churchman and Norman Painting recording an episode of the radio series ‘The Archers’
The controversial storyline provoked shock and outrage at the time.
The Daily Mirror asked: ‘Was Grace Archer coldly and calmly murdered – to rid the Archers of Ysanne Churchman?’
In 2015, a Radio 4 docudrama called Dead Girls Can Tell No Tale resolved the mystery of why Churchman’s character was killed off.
She said it was ‘victimisation because I’d been to Equity to get my fees put right’.
Churchman said she wanted the same pay as her male co-stars and for actors to be in the union.
The Archers creator Godfrey Baseley allegedly wanted her out.
Churchman was able to make a good living voicing commercials for ITV.
She also continued to be involved with The Archers and voiced five other characters, the last being Mary Pound in 1983.
Churchman was involved with Dr Who and voiced alien Alpha Centauri in a 2017 episode.
