Nigel Pargetter played by Graham Seed

Graham Seed, the actor behind the affable character, Nigel Pargetter from the radio series 'The Archers,' is visiting Cambridge on the 13th April to talk about his thoughts on leaving the show after 30 years. The much loved character was written out of the BBC4 series at the beginning of the year in a dramatic storyline designed to commemorate its 60th anniversary.

The event in Cambridge has been arranged to give an opportunity to the huge volumes of Archers' devotees living within the City to come to terms with their loss and to give them a chance to ask Graham their questions about the shocking storyline. All profits from the event will go to the local Cambridge charity, Wintercomfort for the homeless.

Graham Seed explained what motivated him to get involved. "Nigel, whose last wishes were to be buried in a wicker coffin, would have been the first to support Wintercomfort for the Homeless. They are a local charity that is working hard to create training and employment opportunities for those in the City who have experienced homelessness and have rather creatively set up a social enterprise that employs individuals to weave and sell wicker coffins!"

The tickets for the event, being held in the Law Faculty at the University of Cambridge between 6 - 8pm, are on sale and available for £10 from Wintercomfort (phone 01223 518140 or email info@wintercomfort.org.uk) or can be purchased on the night for £12.

A fitting tribute to Nigel Pargetter and to a local charity that is also celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year.

Notes for information:

Graham Seed was born 12 July 1950 in London. He trained at RADA and is best known for his role playing Nigel Pargetter in the BBC radio series The Archers from 1983[1] until January 2011. In addition to The Archers, Seed has appeared in the TV soap operas Brookside (1995-1997, as Dick Thornton), Coronation Street (1981, as a solicitor) and Crossroads (1985-1988, as Charlie Mycroft).[3][4]

His roles include the adult Britannicus, son of the emperor Claudius in the BBC adaptation of Robert Graves; I, Claudius (1976); Harrop in William Boyd's Channel 4 Film, Good and Bad at Games (1983); and Jorkins in the first episode "Et in Arcadia ego" of the ITV television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited (1981). He also appeared in Edward VII (1975), Bergerac (1981), C.A.B. (1986), Doctors (2007), Midsomer Murders (2009) and Wild Target (2010). He has also worked on countless theatre productions over the years, including starring in the West End production of 'Me and My Girl.' He has just finished appearing in the highly acclaimed 'Accolade' by Emlyn Williams at the Finborough in London.

Wintercomfort for the Homeless was set up in 1991 by Henry Rothschild to provide food and shelter to the hundreds who found themselves street homeless in the City of Cambridge. For 20 years Wintercomfort has been providing emergency shelter and welfare services to those in the City of Cambridge who have found themselves without a home or employment (whether through relationship breakdown, mental health problems or financial difficulties).

As part of this work Wintercomfort recently set up Winterwillow, an eco-business that crafts coffins woven from sustainable willow. It is also a social business that provides training, development and employment for those individuals who are homeless and who require support to get back into work. Any future profit made by the business will contribute to the delivery of our welfare services reducing our reliance on grants and donations. www.wintercomfort.org.uk

Wintercomfort for the Homeless

Wintercomfort for the Homeless

Wintercomfort supports those who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes by offering them basic amenities, opportunities for educational development and recreation and a range of services designed to help them achieve greater autonomy.

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