Dead Girls Tell No Tales [Drama]

It's media folklore that the death of BBC soap opera heroine Grace Archer was a ploy to thwart the launch night of ITV on 22 September 1955.

But for the first time, this drama delves deep into The Archers' archives to reveal what really inspired 20 million people to tune in and left tens of thousands of listeners distraught.

Starring Simon Russell Beale, Eleanor Tomlinson and Ysanne Churchman.

Joanna Toye's drama explores the backstage story to a watershed moment in the history of broadcasting which became one of the defining cultural events of the 1950s.

Dan Archer/Harry Oakes - Jon Culshaw

Doris Archer/Gwen Berryman - Pam Ferris

Phil Archer/Norman Painting - Lex Shrapnel

Grace Archer/Ysanne Churchman - Eleanor Tomlinson

Christine Archer/Lesley Saweard - Georgie Fuller

John Tregorran /Basil Jones - Geoffrey Streatfeild

Carol Grey/Anne Cullen - Sally Bretton

Godfrey Baseley - Simon Russell Beale

Tony Shryane - John Hopkins

Valerie Hodgetts - Claudie Blakley

Geoffrey Webb - David Reed

Edward J Mason - Miles Jupp

BBC Announcer - Zeb Soanes

TV Interviewer - Paddy O'Connell

Ysanne Churchman - Herself

OTHER ROLES:

David Hounslow, Sam Dale, Chris Pavlo, Jessica Turner, Alex Tregear.

Director - Sean O'Connor

The backstage story to one of broadcasting's historic moments. With Simon Russell Beale.

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

The backstage story of ITV's launch night when thousands of listeners to The Archers were distraught. Stars Eleanor Tomlinson.

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