His most well-known role was that of Roy Tucker in the Radio 4 soap opera.
Actor Ian Pepperell, of EastEnders and The Archers, passed away tragically at the age of 53, the BBC confirmed, after a protracted illness.
It’s claimed that the actor, who spent 22 years playing the hotelier in the enduring BBC Radio 4 drama, was also “loved” in the part. Ian was the ideal Archers performer, according to Jeremy Howe, the editor of Archers, who spoke with Sky News. He had an apparently effortless fine-tuned vocal technique, enjoyed the camaraderie and gossip of the Green Room, and loved being a member of an ensemble.
Ian Pepperell death
He went on, “Like all the greatest radio actors, he was able to quickly adapt and change how he performed a scene.” Because of Ian’s talent, Roy was able to play a character who could look in two different directions at once in practically every scene.
His character had previously appeared in a number of dramatic plots on the show, one of which took place on New Year’s Eve and saw Roy proposing marriage to Hayley Jordan (played by Lucy Davis).
“He captured Roy as both genial and anxious, funny and sad, easy-going and permanently stressed – a man who could hold down a top job, yet who always carried with him Hamlet’s sense of failure,” Jeremy continued when discussing his role.
“It all made perfect sense,” he went on, “because of Ian’s uncanny and laser-guided ability to find pathos in the comedy that he always played so flawlessly and humour in the emotional scenes.” Ian was eager to get back to Ambridge as soon as his health allowed and had a lot more petrol left in his tank.
Jeremy Howe paid tribute to him
We will miss him terribly and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. It is unfortunate that he passed away at such a young age. The Archers and our millions of listeners loved Ian’s Roy Tucker, and Ambridge loved Roy too,” he said.
