Grace Archer née Fairbrother (April 2, 1930 – September 22, 1955) was a fictional character in the BBC's long-running radio soap, The Archers, and was one of the original characters. She was played by Ysanne Churchman. The episode depicting her death was broadcast as a spoiler on the evening of the launch of ITV.[1]
Grace was the daughter of a wealthy English family who fell in love with Phil Archer, the son of a farmer. They married in April 1955. Five months later, on September 22, a fire broke out at the stables while the residents of the village were at a dinner in the church hall. Grace ran into the burning barn to try to save her friend's horse and, as she searched, a burning beam broke and crashed onto her, trapping her. Phil and the others at the party learned that Grace was in the shed and was trapped. They pulled her from the wreckage and she was rushed to a hospital but it was to no avail, as Grace was pronounced dead on arrival.