BBC The Archers and EastEnders star Ian Pepperell dies aged 57 as tributes pour in
Ian Pepperell has died
BBC
Ian Pepperell has died at the age of 57, the BBC has confirmed.
The actor died following a long illness according to the corporation.
Pepperell featured in more than 400 episodes of The Archers between 2007 and 2023.
His CV also boasted roles in ITV cop drama The Bill and BBC soap EastEnders.
Editor of The Archers, Jeremy Howe said of Pepperell's death: "Ian was the perfect Archers actor – he loved being part of an ensemble, relished the camaraderie and gossip of the Green Room, and had a seemingly effortlessly fine-tuned vocal technique.
"Like all the very best radio actors he could think on his feet and change the way he played a scene in the blink of an eye.
Ian Pepperell played Roy on the Archers
BBC
"Thanks to Ian’s brilliance, he created in Roy a character who managed to face in two directions simultaneously in almost every scene he played.
"He captured Roy as both genial and anxious, funny and sad, easy-going and permanently stressed – a man who could hold down with ease a top job, yet who always carried with him Hamlet’s sense of failure.
"It all made perfect sense because of Ian’s uncanny and laser-guided ability to find humour in the emotional scenes, and find pathos in the comedy that he always played so unerringly well.
"Ian had a lot more gas in the tank and was desperate to return to Ambridge once his health permitted.
"It is tragic that he died in his prime, we will miss him dearly and our hearts go out to his family and friends and everyone who knew him."
Ambridge loved Roy – The Archers and our millions of listeners loved Ian’s Roy Tucker."
Tributes from fans of the radio soap have also flooded in as listeners paid tribute to the actor.
On X, formerly Twitter, one person penned: "Very sad news. Roy was a great character. #TheArchers."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Sad news. No more Roy. Far too young to pass at 53 #TheArchers
— Garden Gnome 🇳🇵 (@Gnomeponders) December 23, 2023
"Sad news. No more Roy. Far too young to pass at 53 #TheArchers," a second added while a third commented: "Greatly saddened to hear this news roy was amongst my favorite characters on #TheArchers probably one of the few characters I'd go for a drink with."
A fourth echoed: "Really sorry to read that. Another horrible blow for #TheArchers cast and production team."
And another weighed in: "Oh no. I had heard he was unwell and struggling I’ve been praying he would recover that’s very sad.
"I liked Roy and he was a great actor. Enjoyed him and Lexi back in the day. #TheArchers."