The Archers star Edward Kelsey, who played the character of Joe Grundy for 34 years, has died at the age of 88.
The actor and voiceover artist, known as Ted to his loved ones, became part of the BBC Radio 4 soap’s famous Grundy family in 1985.
He died ‘peacefully’ yesterday, the BBC announced this afternoon.
His family have paid tribute to him, saying he had an ‘insatiably curious mind’, with Archers editor Jeremy Howe describing him as a ‘brilliant actor and a truly lovely man’.
They added that despite increasing ill-health, he was always determined to persuade doctors he was fit enough to work and record with his ‘extended family’ at the BBC’s studios in Birmingham.
Kelsey recorded his final scenes earlier this month and are due to air in the weeks to come.
The Archers star Edward Kelsey, (pictured in 2000) who voiced the character of Joe Grundy on the BBC Radio 4 soap for 34 years, has died at the age of 88, it was announced today
The BBC announced Kelsey’s death today, describing him as a ‘much-loved and respected member of our Ambridge family’
Aside from his time in the fictional village of Ambridge, he was also known for voicing the characters of Colonel K and Baron Silas Greenback in the 1980s children’s cartoon Danger Mouse.
Kelsey also had small parts in The Vicar Of Dibley and Dr Who.
His family said in a statement today: ‘Ted counted himself immensely lucky that he was able to enjoy a long and varied career doing the thing that he loved, entertaining an audience, and fortunate indeed to have met and worked with so many talented, generous, creative people along the way.
Ted Kelsey also gave his voice to characters in the 1980s children’s cartoon Danger Mouse
‘He embodied the principle that the show must always go on – his chief concern through increasing ill health the need to convince medical staff he was fit enough to record with his ‘extended family’ in Birmingham.
‘He had an insatiably curious mind and never lost his appetite for lively conversation, good company and, of course, a great storyline.’
Editor Mr Howe added: ‘Ted’s time in Ambridge gave us one of the great performances in the history of British radio – idiosyncratic, warm, cantankerous yet generous, dripping with the Grundy magic and wonderfully funny.
‘Ted’s Joe Grundy was a brilliant creation because Ted was a brilliant actor – and a truly lovely man and great company member.
‘A cherished part of our team, I am sure all of us will agree that working with Ted was a rare privilege and he will be very much missed.’
Writing on Twitter, the BBC’s official The Archers account said: ‘We’re remembering ‘Ted’, Edward Kelsey, who died peacefully yesterday.
‘Ted played Joe Grundy for 34 years and was a much-loved and respected member of our Ambridge family.’
Kelsey was born in Hampshire in 1930 and went to medical school, but soon decided to swap medicine for the arts, training at the Royal Academy of Music.
Ted Kelsey (pictured with his Archers co-stars and on-air family Philip Molloy, Trevor Harrison and Rosalind Adams) took over the role of Joe Grundy from Haydn Jones in 1985
Archers fans have already taken to social media to pay tribute to him, saying his voice was a ‘daily part of their lives’
He then secured a six-month contract at BBC Radio Drama, which led to him securing the role of Joe Grundy, taking over from Haydn Jones.
His character Joe was known for ‘his share of scamming’ over the years. He had cooked up schemes that saw him bottling ‘natural’ spring water from his own land and plagiarising during a one-time set on the radio.
He was suffering from ‘farmer’s lung’, a disease caused by an allergy to certain moldy crops.
Fans had speculated he ‘sounded frail’ in recent months, with his on-screen character believed to be 97-years-old.
Archers fanatics have already taken to social media to pay tribute to him, saying his voice was a ‘daily part of their lives’.
Kelsey is pictured with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in February 2001