Tom Graham Leaving British Radio Soap Opera 'The Archers' After 17 Years

The role of Tom Archer in long-running BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers is going to be recast. Tom Graham, who has played the part for 17 years, revealed on Twitter: "My reign as sausage king of Ambridge has come to an end and I am being deposed."

The character has not featured on the show for several months after emigrating to Canada but is expected to return.

A BBC spokesman said: "Characters are frequently recast in The Archers. We never comment on future storylines."

Pet Shop Boys to Make Guest Appearance in British Radio Soap Opera 'The Archers'

The Pet Shop Boys with Archers actors Ian Pepperell, Alison
Dowling and Carole Boyd.

The Pet Shop Boys are going to save the day at Loxfest, the fictional music festival featured in BBC Radio 4's farming soap opera The Archers.

It has been one disaster after another for Loxfest, as all-girl band Honey Storm pulled out and headlining act Quaintance Smith was cut from the bill after accusations of domestic abuse. In Thursday's episode of the drama , Elizabeth Pargetter, owner of the Lower Loxley estate, and fellow organizer Roy Tucker were despairing over the future of their food and music festival when the bruises appeared on the arm of the girlfriend of Quaintance Smith's lead singer.

Friday's episode announced the Pet Shop Boys would step in as the festival's last-minute headliners, alongside a mixture of fictional bands such as the Velvet Cowshed and Hideous Wellies.

Listen to the moment Roy gave Elizabeth the news:

Lyndam Gregory Dead at 59

Lyndam Gregory played roles in The Archers, EastEnders and
Coronation Street.

Lyndam Gregory has died at the age of 59, his wife announced on Thursday. The actor lost his battle with lung cancer last week.

Gregory is best known for his roles in UK soap operas. He played Guppy Sharma in EastEnders on a recurring basis during 1995 and 1996. He also appeared as Sammy in Coronation Street in 1983, in addition to his role as Ashok in The Archers.

Born in Darjeeling, India, Gregory moved to London in the early 1960s with his family, and later trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

Recalling his career in an obituary for The Guardian, Gregory's wife, Christine, wrote: "Lyndam loved being in the soaps, although the wide audience they attracted meant that many complete strangers would approach him as though they had known him for years.

"He enjoyed filming EastEnders at Elstree studios because of its association with landmark films."

Gregory is survived by his wife Christine and their daughter, Dominique.