BBC The Archers legend Ysanne Churchman dies aged 99 as tributes flood in for trailblazing actress

While her tenure on the radio soap only lasted four years from 1951 to 1955, her character's exit remains one of The Archers' biggest talking points to this day.

Over 20 million people tuned in to listen to Grace's farewell as the character was killed in a stable fire.

The instalment was a huge win for the Beeb as it coincided with the launch of rival station ITV, which failed to replicate the ratings of Churchman's last episode.

Complaints rained in at the time as many felt Grace and Churchman's exit was premature after she'd become one of the soap's most beloved characters.

It wasn't until 60 years later that Churchman went public with the real reason her time on The Archers came to an end.

Churchman claimed it was over a pay dispute as she battled for equal pay with her male co-stars.

In a BBC Radio 4 documentary, Churchman added: "They say that when one door shuts another opens. And on the very night Grace died, ITV started, and immediately needed people with just exactly my experience to voice the commercials.

"And so I was able to make a good living from voiceovers for years."

Despite Grace's demise, Churchman continued to lend her talents to the soap and provided the voice for a series of other characters.

Her CV also boasted on-screen stints in Doctor Who, Crossroads, Oliver Twist and the BBC's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

Paying tribute to the actress, current editor of The Archers, Jeremy Howe said: "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."

And social media was soon flooded with tributes from fans, including one who penned: "RIP Ysanne Churchman, I remember how excited I was when I heard that iconic voice at the end of The Emptess of Mars."

A second weighed in: "RIP Ysanne Churchman. My mother never forgave the BBC for killing off Grace Archer. Decades later I have never forgiven them for doing the same to Nigel!"

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RIP Ysanne Churchman. My mother never forgave the BBC for killing off Grace Archer. Decades later I have never forgiven them for doing the same to Nigel! #TheArchers https://t.co/XzsnjduVRx

— New Forest Dog 🌈 and Her Indoors (@NewForestDog) July 26, 2024

The BBC Radio 4 soap is still going strong to this day, with new episodes airing on the radio station daily.

Churchman joined the soap in its debut year on the airwaves following the success of five pilot episodes that were broadcast in 1950.