© Steve Ullathorne
Hugh Dennis to appear on The Archers
To conduct the funeral of Peggy Woolley
Hugh Dennis is to appear on The Archers, Chortle can reveal.
The comedian is playing Father Crispin, a one-off character who appears in the long-running Radio 4 soap opera tonight and tomorrow.
His character comes to Ambridge to conduct the funeral of Peggy Woolley, who had fallen out with the village vicar Alan Franks over his controversial decision to facilitate the baptism of the villainous Rob Titchener.
Before she died, Peggy – whose passing was revealed in an episode a month ago – met Father Crispin at her home, The Laurels, and made the arrangements for her funeral.
An insider said Dennis - whose acting credits include Outnumbered and The Couple Next Door– ‘promises to bring a touch of comic relief as listeners prepare to bid farewell to one of Ambridge’s most iconic residents’.
He’s pictured above recording his role with Perdita Avery, who plays Peggy’s granddaughter Kate Madikane and Paul Venables as her partner Jakob Hakansson.
Peggy was played by June Spencer for more than 60 years, from 1950 - when the soap began – to 1953 and then again from 1962 to 2022, by which time she was the only remaining member of the original cast. Spencer died last year at the age of 105
Dennis joins a varied list of guest stars who have featured in The Archers, including Dame Judi Dench, Queen Camilla, Alison Steadman and Jackie Weaver, who gained fame for taking control of the Handforth Parish Council Zoom meeting during lockdown.
From the comedy world, Griff Rhys Jones appeared as himself in July 2004, backing a campaign to restore the Cat and Fiddle pub; Dame Edna Everage appeared in 1998, when there characters Robert and Lynda went to see her on stage and she picked on Lynda and future I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue legend Humphrey Lyttelton opened the village fate in 1957.
Dennis’s episodes airs on BBC Radio 4 at 7pm tonight and tomorrow.
Published: 9 Jun 2025
'The world has changed but in Outnumbered the relationships have stayed the same'
The Brockmans are back for the first new Outnumbered…
10/12/2024
Hugh Dennis and David Baddiel make a French travel show
Hugh Dennis and David Baddiel are reuniting…
10/10/2024
Outnumbered to return after eight years
Outnumbered is returning to the BBC for a one-off Christmas…
23/05/2024
Hugh Dennis: How MI5 approached me to be a spy
Hugh Dennis might have had a small role in the Bond…
12/04/2024
Comedians to guest host Pointless
Comedians including Chris Ramsey, Josh Widdicombe,…
29/01/2024
Now Show cleared of being 'pro-terrorist'
Radio 4’s Now Show has been accused of showing…
19/01/2024
'I spend very, very little time watching comedy'
Hugh Dennis is playing it straight with the new Channel…
21/11/2023
Hugh Dennis to play a Peeping Tom
Hugh Dennis is moving into serious drama, starring…
5/10/2023
Hugh Dennis to host More4 property show
Hugh Dennis is to host a new property series for…
23/06/2022
Now Show creators Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis have written…
2/01/2022
'I'd be very happy to make more Outnumbered'
Hugh Dennis says he would like Outnumbered to come…
10/02/2021
Hugh Dennis is to present a new More 4 show in which…
4/02/2021
Products
DVD (2011)
Jasper Carrott: Canned Carrott Vol.1
DVD (2010)
Outnumbered Series 3
DVD (2009)
Outnumbered Series 2
DVD (2008)
Outnumbered Series 1
DVD (2007)
Mock The Week: Too Hot ForTV
Past Shows
Agent
We do not currently hold contact details for Hugh Dennis's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.