The Stage

Archers actress Mary Wimbush dies at 81

Published Tuesday 1 November 2005 at 17:25

Mary Wimbush, who played Julia Pargetter-Carmichael in the BBC radio soap The Archers for 13 years, has died at the age of 81. Julia was the actress’ third major role in the serial. She previously played village schoolteacher Elsie Catcher and Lady Isobel Lander.

A radio actress for more than 60 years, she also had a successful theatre career. She starred in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at Manchester Royal Exchange, Butley in the West End and Richard III and The Wild Duck at the National Theatre. On television she appeared as Aunt Agatha in three series of Jeeves and Wooster.

She died at the BBC’s Birmingham Studios shortly after recording an episode of The Archers on Monday, October 31.