Christine Barford

Christine Barford
The Archers character
Lesley Saweard as Christine Barford
Portrayed byPamela Mant (1951–1953)
Lesley Saweard (1953–1962, 1968–2019)
Joyce Gibbs (1962–1968)
Duration1951–2019
First appearance1 January 1951
Last appearance30 December 2019
ClassificationFormer; regular
Created byGodfrey Baseley
Introduced byGodfrey Baseley
In-universe information
OccupationStables owner (retired)
FatherDan Archer
MotherDoris Archer
BrothersPhil Archer
Jack Archer
Husband
  • Paul Johnson (1956–1978)
  • George Barford (1978–2005)
Adoptive sonsPeter Johnson
GrandfathersJohn Archer
William Forrest
GrandmothersPhoebe Archer
Lisa Forrest
UnclesBen Archer
Frank Archer
Ted Forrest
Tom Forrest
NephewsKenton Archer
David Archer
Tony Archer
NiecesShula Hebden Lloyd
Elizabeth Pargetter
Jennifer Aldridge
Lilian Bellamy

Christine Barford (also Archer and Johnson) is a fictional character from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers. The character was introduced as the sister of Phil Archer in 1951, and the daughter of Dan and Doris Archer. The character was a skilled horsewoman, who for many years ran the Ambridge riding stables. British actress Lesley Saweard played the role from 1953 to 2019, with a six-year break in the mid-1960s, making her one of the longest-serving soap opera actors in the world. Saweard was last heard in the episode broadcast 30 December 2019.[1]

Saweard describes her character as a "likable, reliable, capable person, very like her mother Doris" but who "sadly doesn’t see much of her son Peter".[2] The character lives in an apartment at The Laurels assisted living facility, and is nicknamed 'Auntie Chris' by many of the characters in the show.[2]

  1. ^ Archers Omnibus 191229 (29 December 2019) [ArchersOmni_ 2019-12-29], 3 August 2020, retrieved 2 February 2023
  2. ^ a b "BBC Radio 4 - The Archers - Christine Barford". BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2019.