Brian Aldridge

Whether you see him as a fully paid-up member of the Borsetshire farming establishment or a true cad and a bounder, Brian is never dull.

Fact title	Fact data
Played by:	Charles Collingwood
Born:	20 November 1943
Status:	Married to Jennifer Aldridge
Occupation:	Farmer, chair of Borchester Land
Lives at:	Home Farm

His self-assured and sometimes arrogant manner conceals a sensitivity and a fierce love for his children which can sometimes surprise.

He has put his long-suffering wife Jennifer through innumerable trials, yet still she takes him back, which would suggest that either her capacity for forgiveness is limitless, or that she can see beyond the bluster to something worth fighting for. He shrugs off discomfort at the misfortune of others: Matt Crawford's ignominious departure from the Borchester Land board allowed him to take over as chairman.

Sister-in-law Lilian's distress at Matt's predicament merely irritated him; her frequent presence at Home Farm tended to take away Jennifer's attention to his needs.

Leave it to me darling. You know you can trust me.Brian Aldridge

Likes - Good whisky, good looking women
Dislikes - Losing in business, being held to account
Highs - Jennifer agreeing to take on Ruairi
Lows - Siobhan Donovan's death from cancer

Immediate family

Jennifer Aldridge (Wife)
Peggy (Margaret) Woolley (Mother-in-law)
Jack Woolley (Father-in-law)
Ruairi Donovan (Son)
Adam Macy (Step Son)
Alice Carter (Daughter)
Debbie Aldridge (Step Daughter)
Kate Madikane (Daughter)
Noluthando Madikane (Granddaughter)
Sipho Madikane (Grandson)
Lilian Bellamy (Sister in Law)
James Bellamy (Nephew)
Tom Archer (Nephew)
Helen Archer (Niece)

Key relationships

Tony Archer (Brother in Law and ethical opposite) - Tony and Pat's attitude to farming is poles apart from Brian's
David Archer (Ally) - David was an often unwilling shoulder during the Siobhan unpleasantness
Ian Craig (Family but only just) - Has an uneasy relationship with Adam's civil partner
Matt Crawford (Foe) - Matt will never forgive Brian for replacing him at the helm of Borchester Land
Lynda Snell (Foe) - Plenty of protection of the countryside issues between the two over the years
Annabelle Schrivener (Fellow director)
Barbara Gladstone (Fellow director)
Andrew Eagleton (Fellow director)
Gerry Morton (Fellow director)
Martyn Gibson (Fellow director)

Charles Collingwood

Charles was born in Canada, educated at Sherborne School and trained at RADA. His early years were spent in repertory and he also toured the far east in Relatively Speaking.

Nearer London, he played opposite Penelope Keith in How The Other Half Loves at Greenwich, and for over a year starred in Tom Stoppard’s Dirty Linen. But most of the last 25 years have been spent in broadcasting.

Charles’s TV credits include White Teeth, Midsomer Murders, Bob Martin, London’s Burning and Inspector Morse. Charles even co-hosted a game show with Bernard Manning and was seen as the eccentric scorer on Noel Edmund’s Telly Addicts.

On radio, Charles recorded many comedy series with Harry Worth, Richard Stilgoe and the much missed Roy Castle.

He met his wife Judy Bennett (Shula) recording voices for a TV puppet series. Romance blossomed and in 1975 Charles was invited to join Judy in The Archers by creating the part of a wealthy gentleman farmer, Brian Aldridge – the “JR of Ambridge”.

Charles spent four years as a continuity news reader for the BBC World Service, but pronunciation let him down.

He has guested on many shows including Celebrity Weakest Link (which he won!), Call My Bluff, Countdown, Fifteen to One, and Good Morning With Anne and Nick. And for Radio 4, Just a Minute, Quote Unquote and That Reminds Me.

In 2003 Charles was honoured to be the subject of This Is Your Life. He continues to entertain audiences with his one man show Playing Away.

Other career highlights

Diversification! Games shows, panel games, Cocklebury-Smythe in Dirty Linen, over 150 Laughter and Intrigue shows with Judy. Now my one-man show Playing Away and biography Brian and Me, just to prove I could write!

Archers highlights

So many great storylines. The affair with Caroline, knocked over by a BSE ridden cow, epilepsy, Kate missing, Adam returning and stories with Debbie, but mostly Siobhan. How lucky – their entire affair and its ramifications and then her tragic early death. Meat and drink for an actor!

On playing Brian Aldridge

Would not be a man I would warm toCharles Collingwood

Only thing in common – educated at Sherbourne! Would not be a man I would warm to, as I’d have little in common. I’d love his wealth though, but not his wife!!!