The Archers actor Edward Kelsey has died at the age of 88, the BBC has said.
In an official statement, Edward’s family remembered him for his “insatiably curious mind” and love of “lively conversation, good company and a great storyline”.
“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,” they said.
“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.”
Edward voiced Joe Grundy in the popular radio soap, who paid tribute to him on the show’s official Twitter page shortly after the news of his death was confirmed.
The post read: “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.”
Jeremy Howe, editor of The Archers, 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.”
Ted also made numerous TV appearances during his career, landing roles in The Vicar Of Dibley, EastEnders and Doctor Who.