Becky Wright
19 July 2007

As Will Grundy enjoys the new-found company of Nicola (Nic) Hanson, we meet The Archers’ newest actress, Becky Wright. Nic, the single mother, of Jake (3) and Mia (1) lives in a small rented house after an acrimonious break-up with her unreliable (and unfaithful) partner Andrew. Having given up her job at Regal Coaches in Hollerton after the birth of Mia, she found herself caught in the “benefit trap”, with little incentive to return to employment.
Becky Wright (Nic Hanson)

Becky had appeared in a Birmingham production for BBC Radio 4 - Children of Wychwood - which featured several Archers actors, including Michael Cochrane (Oliver), Robert Lister (Lewis) and Lorraine Coady. When the part of Hayley was re-cast, both Lorraine and Becky auditioned for it, Lorraine being the successful one at that time. But Becky had clearly made an impression, as the following year she was invited to audition for the role of Nic, playing opposite Philip Molloy (Will Grundy). Becky's audition scene was the one in which she made her first appearance last week, as harrassed Nic boarded the bus - a complex task involving three microphones, two children, a baby buggy, a bag, a purse and some change counting. But despite this challenge, and it only being her second radio role, Phil reported that she "nailed it first time".



Becky in studio with Philip Molloy (Will Grundy)

" I really didn't expect to get the job. I was on my way to a rehearsal on the top of a 476 bus to Stoke Newington with some friends when I got the call. There were quite a few tears on that bus." One week later, Becky was at the Mailbox studio in Birmingham, recording the scene for real, but when it was broadcast a few weeks later nerves prevented her from listening to the episode: "I had to ring my parents first. They said it sounded all right, so I listened online."

Becky is enjoying the experience of developing the part of Nic: "Like Will, she's had a rough time with her previous relationship. She's vulnerable and frightened of getting into a similar situation. She's doing her best for her children. I think she's embarrassed that she's not working - she'd like to be - but with childcare costs she'd be worse off working than she is on benefits. So life's a struggle, and she's looking for someone to be with her, but I think it was a shock that another man found her attractive. She's been hurt once and she doesn't want it to happen again."

Becky admits to having been a sporadic listener to The Archers, blaming the "mental" lifestyle of the jobbing actor, which last year saw her playing Kate in a national tour of The Taming of the Shrew. Since getting the part she's been mugging up with the help of the Who's Who in The Archers book, supplemented with advice from Archers archivist Camilla Fisher and the rest of the cast: I'm forever saying [whispers] 'Who's that?' ".

Her research also extended beyond Ambridge, as she was asked to give Nic an East Midlands accent. "I took the advice of a voice coach and watched lots of films like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and most of Shane Meadows' work. And Paddy Greene (Jill) who comes from Derbyshire has been a great help in telling me if I'm getting it right."

Becky is clearly still adjusting to her new situation: "I don't think I realised what a big thing it is to a lot of people. It's a great job. I love radio but I never thought I'd get a part in The Archers. It's quite surreal."

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