THE Archers paid a heartfelt tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her passing in Sunday’s edition of the iconic BBC Radio 4 soap opera.
A specially-recorded scene was broadcast in which the longest-serving characters Lynda Snell and Lillian Bellamy, recounted their memories of the coronation of Her Majesty in 1953.
In the opening scene, Lynda remarked: “When you think of our lives since then, and everything that’s happened to us, the Queen has always been there – she’s just always been there.”
Lillian replied: “Steady as a rock, It’s going to be strange without her, I think.”
Lynda then said: “It’s going to be very different without her.”
Later, the two characters were heard discussing the book of condolence which had been placed in the community church for the locals to share their thoughts and send their well wishes to the royal family.
Read More on Soaps
Lynda, played by actress Carole Boyd, expressed her struggle at finding the right words to say, echoing the thoughts of many people up and down the country who are struggling to process the tragic news.
Lynda said: “Dearest Ma’am. Rest in peace. You were an inspiration.”
Questioning if she did the right thing, Lynda asked Lillian, played by Sunny Ormonde, “Do you think that was enough?”
Lillian answered: “Yes, I think that was perfect.”
The Archers is the world’s longest running soap having made its debut in 1951 just before the Queen ascended to the throne.
The radio favourite has long had a connection to the Royal Family after Princess Margaret had a cameo role in the show in 1984 before the Queen Consort, Camilla made an appearance in 2011.
Camilla appeared as herself, in her real-life role as the president of the National Osteoporosis Society.
Camilla followed this soap appearance with a cameo in the BBC’s EastEnders earlier this year.
The Archers has become the only soap thus far to reference the Queen’s death.
Read More on The Sun
All of the television soaps had to delay their planned episodes in order to facilitate the rolling coverage of Her Majesty’s death.
As the soaps often film at least six weeks prior to transmission, it creates difficulties in adding real-time references to ground-breaking events, although special extra scenes are sometimes filmed.
