Thelma Rogers (24 June 1924 – 13 January 2000) was an English actress. She was best known as the voice of Peggy Archer on the BBC Radio 4 radio soap opera The Archers between 1953 and 1962.

Thelma Rogers
Born
Thelma Rogers

24 June 1924
Coventry, England
Died13 January 2000(2000-01-13) (aged 75)
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1953–1990
Known forThe Archers
FatherEdwin Moody Rogers

Early life

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Thelma Rogers was born and raised in Coventry. Her father, Edwin Moody Rogers, was the Lord Mayor of Coventry from 1966 to 1967.[1]

Rogers studied for two years in Cambridge to become a teacher. She later dropped her teaching studies and joined the Leicester Repertory Company, studying acting, for four years.[1]

Career

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Rogers began her career in April 1953,[1] when she joined the cast of the BBC Radio 4 radio soap opera The Archers, taking over the role of Margaret "Peggy" Archer from June Spencer.[2] She was spotted in the early 1950s by Tony Shryane, the first producer. She left the serial in 1962 and Spencer returned to her former position as Peggy. Rogers made her debut as the voice of Elsie Catcher, a schoolteacher.[1]

Rogers worked the stage after her departure from The Archers. She later joined the Perth Repertory Company.[1] She took a prominent role while in Scotland, Lily Taylor in the ITV soap opera Take the High Road. Rogers other television credits include Crossroads and Coronation Street.[1]

Personal life

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Rogers hated the name Thelma until someone pointed out that it was an anagram of Hamlet.[1]

Death

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Rogers died in London, England on 13 January 2000. She was 75.[1]

Filmography

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Radio

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1953–1962 The Archers Peggy Archer Series regular; 438+ episodes [3]
1954–1962 Guilty Party Various 19 episodes
1956–1961 Children's Hour Various 28 episodes
1956 Tickets, Please Rosa 1 episode
Fresh as Paint Valerie Gibbs 1 episode
The Claverdon Road Job Woman 1 episode
1958 Tollworth in the Evening Betty Manton 1 episode
A Blessing in Disguise Maisie Edge 1 episode
Mind Your Own Business Jill 1 episode
Appeal: Cleeve Prior Church Herself 1 episode
1959 The Voyage of the Wanti Se Hilda Chapman 1 episode
A Member of the Family Kath 1 episode
The Boys of Summer Pam Willis 2 episodes
1960 Prelude to Finale Caroline Unger 1 episode
Brief is the Hour Mrs. Rostrevor 1 episode
1963 The Mystery of the Man Next Door Mary Schofield 4 episodes
The Bed-Makers Con 1 episode
1969 The Mayor of Casterbridge 1 episode
1987 News and Vintage Archers Peggy Archer 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Painting, Norman (21 January 2000). "Thelma Rogers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. ^ Singh, Anita (6 February 2018). "I've been on The Archers for 60 years - but nobody knows my name". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ^ "BBC Programme Index". BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2023.