The professor and the lawyer
29 November 2007

Two new voices are heard in Ambridge this week. Alistair's father Jim Lloyd arrives to convalesce at The Stables - complete with plaster cast. And feisty solicitor Annabelle Schrivener makes an impression on the board of Borsetshire Land. We meet the actors - neither of them newcomers to Ambridge.

John Rowe plays Jim Lloyd

John Rowe

John plays retired history professor Jim Lloyd. John is not a regular Archers listener, although his wife is: "I'll ask something like 'Who is Lilian?' and she'll give me a biography of every character", he says. But he is no stranger to the programme professionally. A busy radio and television actor, who has spent time on the BBC Radio Repertory Company, John recalls his early jobs in radio drama, while still a student in Birmingham. New arrivals to the green room at the old Broad Street studios were gently warned where not to sit - because certain Archers actors habitually occupied particular chairs!

And this is not John's first role in Ambridge. He appeared initially as the MD of the firm carrying out the GM trials which landed Tom in hot water, and later as two separate policemen; one investigating Eddie Grundy's illegal meat scam and the other, rather excitingly, as the head of the armed response unit which captured Clive Horrobin.


John plays his early scenes
as Jim in a real wheelchair

John is relishing joining the cast to play a character who is more than just a one-off appearance. "The writers have clearly enjoyed writing Jim and so as an actor I've enjoyed playing him. He's a curmudgeonly chap; a natural anarchist, with a low boredom threshold and little tolerance for the bourgeois niceties of life. And unlike a lot of the people in Ambridge, he's interested in a good philosophical discussion."

John admits to basing certain elements of the character on one of his former university tutors, even suggesting a script change to incorporate a catchphrase he remembers. Listen out for a querulous "Meaning...?"


Julia Hills plays Annabelle Schrivener

Julia gives voice to the redoubtable lawyer Annabelle Schrivener. Julia is probably best known for her long-running role as Rona in the BBC TV series 2 Point 4 Children. But like John, she's also had several parts in The Archers. Coincidentally she was also responsible for Eddie's meat downfall, as an environmental health officer. Other characters included the registrar who married Sid and Jolene and a barrister in the prosecution of the racist thugs who attacked Usha. And earlier this year she cuddled up to Bertie the boa constrictor as the voluptuous burlesque dancer Scarlett del Monte.

"I'm thrilled to be back", said Julia. "They're such a nice bunch of people and I always enjoy working with them. I'm a big fan of The Archers and I listen regularly, so to have a part on a longer term basis is great."

How does she see Annabelle? "She's very sharp, intelligent, sophisticated, very good at her job. She's always well turned out and attractive and she's extremely self-confident - with good reason."

Like Jim Lloyd, the character seems ready to create some ripples in the placid pond of Ambridge life.

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