The Questionnaire - Angela Piper
7 Feb 2003

You sent in a record number of questions for Angela Piper (Jennifer Aldridge). Here's a good selection, with Angela's answers. We'll publish more next week.

I thought your showdown scene with Brian was absolutely wonderful. But if you were Jenny in reality, what would you have done? (I would have kicked him from here to eternity, thrown him out and taken him for every penny.)
Leoni Burke

If (I hope it never does) this happens in your own life, how would YOU react?
John Slingsby

Remember that Jennifer has had her own romantic assignations herself and also knows Brian to be a bit of a philanderer and womaniser. Neither of them is perfect. It has actually hurt her very deeply that a baby is involved and that, I believe, has made her more compassionate. She still loves Brian, she does want the marriage to work for the sake of the other children and the whole family, and she doesn’t want to lose face. If it happened in my own life, I think I would be far less tolerant.

I don’t honestly know what I would have done in similar circumstances. All I do know is that it was a wonderful scene to play and the emotions and reactions to me as my alter ego Jennifer were absolutely natural.

Do you ever feel that the script writers get it wrong and can you make suggestions for the character?
Gyleon

What, if anything, would you have liked Jennifer to do differently when she discovered Brian and Siobhan's affair?
Bookworm

Of course we sometimes think the editors and scriptwriters "get it wrong", but in this instance I think they’ve handled the story brilliantly. It would be extremely difficult to "kick Brian out forever" and what would she gain by that? Far better to have him eating humble pie for a while. I suppose we could make suggestions to scriptwriters but I personally would feel it a bit of an imposition to do so, and it could be perceived as interference. Remember, it could be great fun to write somebody falling head first into the slurry pit!

You bear an uncanny resemblance in appearance to my sister, and to her again in Jennifer's character. Do you have anyone in real life on whom you model Jennifer?
Alan Craw

No, I’d have needed to have known them for more than 40 years! When I first "met" Jennifer she was still at school and a bit of a tearaway. I hope you like your sister - I certainly like Jennifer.

Is Jennifer's voice and delivery your natural voice and delivery, or do you make a conscious alteration to it to 'become' Jennifer? Jennifer's voice is wonderfully smooth, but when she gets exasperated there is a distinct tune which she adopts. Is this how Angela speaks when Charles loses the car keys, etc....? As a listener for 25+ years I never confuse one voice with another. Is this built in to the audition process? Would an actor be rejected because she sounds too like another ... or would the producers ask them to alter their vocalisation?
Neil Frowe

I (Angela) am not married to Charles (Brian) – that’s Judy Bennett who plays Shula. Jennifer’s voice and delivery is not exactly mine. It’s an unconscious alteration when I pick up a script and play the part. I am sure that when actors are auditioned for the programme great consideration is given to quality and timbre of the voice.

Playing the same character for nearly 40 years, you probably feel like slipping on a second skin, whenever you read your part at recording sessions! If that is the case, is it easy to play the character in times of crisis story lines like the current one offer? Do you find it difficult to leave that story line behind once you have finished at the studio?
Louise

As you rightly say, it is rather like slipping on a second skin, having had Jennifer as my alter ego for 40 years. It is absolutely wonderful to have had such an excellent story line recently, something to get one’s teeth into. A bit like a musician at last showing he can pay Tchaikovsky instead of The Monkey’s Wedding. After those truly emotional scenes - especially once we had rehearsed and recorded them a few times – I did feel a bit drained.

I've really enjoyed the recent exchanges between Jennifer and Brian and want to congratulate you on your superb acting. Your reaction to Brian's revelations - simultaneously wanting to know the details and yet somehow not wanting to know and your growing sense of betrayal as you discovered the extent of his deception were very real. How did you prepare for this very different aspect of Jennifer?
Linda Scott

Thank you enormously for your kind words. When you do radio acting nobody is there to clap if they like your performance, so it’s been wonderful to hear - metaphorically speaking – that listeners have been clapping. I didn’t have to prepare for this different aspect of Jennifer, I just had to believe in what was written. That was easy – it was extremely well written and so I just had to think my way through the emotions. And when you truly believe it, then it comes from the heart.

You bring just so much depth to a character whom many perceive as shallow. Rubbish! Jennifer has frequently shown the many intriguing facets of her personality, thanks to you. My question is: How do you unwind from emotionally charged episodes? The emotion must get to you somehow, accomplished actress as you are.
Jane Cooper

I have absolutely loved playing the role of Jennifer and I am delighted you recognise that what appears as "shallow" is actually her veneer, a protection against her vulnerabilities and weaknesses. There are many. She never will forget that her father was an alcoholic, that she had an illegitimate child etc etc – and yet she looks confident and has her hidden depths. I must admit I did feel a bit wobbly and exhausted after those emotional scenes – and was in desperate need of a cup of tea! A glass of bubbly might have been better, but I had to drive 150 miles home!

I see from your profile that, in common with many other Archersactors, you do other work. Unlike many of the others, I have never recognised your voice in other programmes. That leads me to believe that you must be a much nicer person than Jennifer, as you encapsulate her spoilt, selfish character perfectly in the voice you use for her. Am I right, or is the petulance in Jenny's privileged tone very much your own? (Incidently, you look nothing like Jennifer, either, for, in my head at least, she has chestnut brown hair!)
Rosemary, Somerset

Some people say I should be tall and dark, some say I’m just as they imagine, short and fair. However, as the old saying goes, "the pictures are better on the radio". I don’t think I sound like a spoilt, selfish person in real life. However, if I get really nasty and waspish on the telephone I think I switch into Jennifer mode. If you are actually seen rather than just heard, the voice is a far less important factor of recognition.

Does it feel 'odd' playing someone else's 'wife' when the 'husband' is that of another member of the cast? How involved do you get in the arguments in the script after the recording has finished? Do you feel just a little bit 'married' to Brian after playing opposite him for so long?
Denise W

I suppose it is rather strange having been "married" to another man for more than 25 years. I thinks Charles and I have got used to each other by now and can quite cheerfully be rude to one another. The only think that is odd about playing the fictitious wife is that for some extraordinary reason the BBC gets Judy Bennett and Angela Piper confused rather frequently - quite amusing really. I can’t really remember getting in to an argument after the recording had finished. Not much point really. Far better to have the discussion before the recording was started.

How has "Jennifer" changed and how has your approach to the character changed over the years?
John Leasure, Portsmouth, Ohio USA

Help! How have you changed over the past 40 years – and how have I changed, let alone Jennifer? It’s impossible to say without writing a book about it, and than I would have to do a lot of research to remind me. She has certainly developed - from being a worrying teenager to a distraught single mother, an unhappy wife, a caring daughter, a doting mother, a desperately deceived wife. As a result of all her life’s experiences, she has achieved a lot and grown into a reasonably resilient character. I don’t approach the character, I actually approach the situation the character finds herself in with the belief that I know and understand Jennifer.

Congratulations on your performance. You have kept us gripped over the last year or more. On The Archers Message Board, Jennifer is considered to be very naive where Brian is concerned. Do you think the rude awakening she has received lately will have a lasting effect on her relationship with Brian? Is it going to be Cold Comfort Farm from now on or do you think Jenny and Brian can get back to a semblance of love and trust?
Portia Venice.

Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m not sure about the trust but Brian has said many times that he loves Jennifer and she in turn loves him, warts and all. She has always known he is a terrible womaniser, but the fact that a baby is involved is bound to have far reaching consequences. This will doubtless put enormous strain on their relationship in the future.

I am reliably informed that Jennifer was once a strong, self-reliant woman willing to defy convention if it conflicted with what she believed to be right, what happened to turn her into a pathetic snob willing to endure the humiliation of marriage to a serial adulterer? Do you think that she will finally see sense, divorce Brian, get an excellent settlement and go on the rampage with Lilian? (I'm sure I'm not the only one who longs to hear those two on the prowl!)
Boudicca (Queen)

Indeed Jennifer was all the things you say, However, she did have her own affairs in the past and she is older and wiser. Why should it be better for her to chuck Brian out, or indeed leave herself? She may well believe she has much more power by letting sleeping dogs lie. This conflict will certainly not be smoothed over in a matter of a few weeks. Remember too she cares deeply for her family and actually is unselfish when considering their comfort and welfare. I really don’t think she’d enjoy being a bottle blonde joining a band of wealthy divorcees on the hunt in the casinos of Monte Carlo with Lilian.

What will happen to Jennifer? Now that she knows about the affair will she divorce brain ?
chayaaarons

Why should she? I know she’d get an enormous settlement financially, but she wouldn’t be happy unsettling her family.

I have to tell you that usually I find Jennifer really irritating, but when Brian told her of his affair I thought she was amazing and has handled the whole situation brilliantly; but is she really convinced he will stay, does she even want him to stay, and is she tempted to confront Siobhan. Personally I think Brian and Siobhan are welcome to each other and that Jennifer would have a much better time without him moaning about how "busy" he is. She should take him to the financial "cleaners" in the divorce courts and have some fun… Go on girl, go for it!!!!!
K A F

Aah, you see Jennifer now in three dimensions. You’ve only been irritated because she’s been so good at covering up her true emotions. Brian would have an awful lot to lose if he decided to leave her. He would have to say goodbye to his home, his farm, his family and all the rest of the wonderful Archer dynasty in Ambridge. I think he’ll have to learn to "toe the line" where Jennifer’s concerned. Jennifer possibly would have liked to confront Siobhan, but she wouldn’t fly to Ireland to do it.

More of your questions and Angela's answers will appear next week

Previous Questionnaires:

Barry Farrimond (Ed)

Charlotte Martin (Susan)