Pat Archer's turmoil: Pat Gallimore Interview
From the start of it has been an emotional roller-coaster for Archers listeners and characters alike. Not least of all for .
But then Pat is no stranger to emotional turmoil and family drama. And the actor Pat Gallimore has been with her through all of it, playing the character for over 40 years.
She has an impeccable memory for the trials and tribulations of her Bridge Farm counterpart.
“I’ve been through a lot of good times and bad times with Pat whom I admire enormously.
“, having a younger son arrested for trashing GM crops, had her troubles. Pat’s just been there for all of them.
“And then there was accident where he nearly died so, I think Pat’s amazing.”
Pat's going to believe her daughterPat Gallimore on Pat Archer
Sticking up for Pat
When it comes to Helen’s recent damaging relationship, Pat says she has “had a lot of stick” for Pat not seeing through .
She robustly defends her saying that to start with Pat had very serious misgivings about Rob.
But her perception shifted with Rob’s ability to charm and seeing Helen happy.
“I think when your child, who has had many, many troubles in her life, seems to be more settled you think ‘well I’ve got to give it my best shot, I’ve got to support my daughter’”, says Pat.
Since April, Pat has wrangled with what led to Helen stabbing Rob and chastised herself for not doing enough to protect her daughter. She knows her daughter isn’t a violent person and was sure there was a reason behind Helen’s actions.
“Pat’s going to believe in her daughter, there must have been a reason. And then of course the guilt starts tripping in”, says Pat.
For months, unable to speak to Helen or her lawyer , Pat had the question “Why?” going round and round in her head. That question was answered during the trial when Helen found the strength to express the full extent of Rob’s abuse, including the sexual violence.
Life after Helen’s trial
Now Helen has been acquitted, the Archers at Bridge Farm are adjusting to having her back in the family fold. But it’s not all over, says Pat.
She believes the Bridge Farm Archers need to rebuild their relationships with one another and recover from the trauma they have all been through.
“The fact that Rob is still lurking there in the village somewhere for goodness knows how long, it’s really hard. People are bound to bump into him” says Pat.
While Pat Archer has the resolve to keep rolling with whatever life throws up, we shall have to steel ourselves for the next chapters in the lives of Helen, her mother Pat, and the rest of their family.
Working on The Archers
Pat Gallimore, who plays Pat Archer, describes what it's like being part of The Archers.
