Antony Gormley in Ambridge
16 July 2009

With national attention on the recent launch of the artwork "One & Other" in London's Trafalgar Square, it was timely for the project's creator, Antony Gormley, to appear at the Ambridge fete.

Antony Gormley and Carole Boyd (Lynda Snell) in studio

In Gormley's project, 2,400 members of the public will mount the five metre high plinth as a "living monument" every hour for 100 days. Ambridge's plinth was rather more modest in ambition: a few straw bales on a trailer, running over an afternoon in 15-minute sessions. Nonetheless the Turner Prize-winning sculptor was happy to accept the invitation to take part.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Gormley said: "Lynda Snell has been getting very excited about the alternative Ambridge One & Other and as they have been so supportive of my project, I went and spent the day with Lynda, Nigel and Elizabeth."

An honour
Gormley had the difficult task of playing himself, performing lines from the script written by Joanna Toye. But Archers senior producer Julie Beckett, who directed the episodes, said it was an enjoyable and positive experience for all: "Just about the first thing he said to me when he walked in was 'what an honour'. He was very happy to be there".

"It's always a real pleasure when the first read-through of the script feels comfortable. He immediately immersed himself into the world of Ambridge."

Julie said that Gormley was very quick to take direction and very generous in his praise of other people: "And to everyone's relief he didn't take exception to Joe's rude comments in the script about his work. It was enormous fun working with him."

The fun was enhanced by sound effects technician Dave Savage, who had built a beautifully ridiculous "Angel of Ambridge" out of trellis and plastic. Dave followed Ted Kelsey (Joe Grundy) all round the studio, ensuring a realistic sound for Joe's homage to Gormley's most famous work.

Archers editor Vanessa Whitburn said: "I'm so pleased that Anthony thought it such an honour to appear in The Archers. It was certainly an honour to have him."

Celebrities in Ambridge
Gormley joins an illustrious list of high-profile figures who have appeared as themselves in The Archers. In 1984, Princess Margaret and the Duke of Westminster appeared on the programme for a charity fashion show to celebrate the centenary of the NSPCC. Others include Alan Titchmarsh, Griff Rhys Jones and Mike Gatting. One of the earliest such appearances was Humphrey Lyttleton in 1957 - opening the Ambridge fête!

One and Other

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