Archers actor, Arnold Peters, who played the part of someone living with dementia has died

Archers actor, Arnold Peters, who played the part of someone living with dementia has died.

Arnold Peters, who had Alzheimer’s disease and also played the part of someone with dementia, as Jack Woolley in the popular Radio 4 series The Archers, has died in a care home at the age of 87.

Mr Peters was diagnosed with the most common form of dementia shortly after the start of a storyline where his character developed the condition in 2003.

Despite the progression of his dementia, he continued to star in the show until July 2011, after which Jack remained a silent character who would often be visited by his wife Peggy.

Alzheimer’s Society worked closely with the production team of the Archers to help them with the on-air depiction of dementia, which went on to win a Mental Health Media Award in 2007.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society said: “For Arnold Peters to play the part of someone living with Alzheimer’s disease when art was truly imitating life took great strength and courage. The Archers was one of the very first programmes to depict dementia in a storyline. Going out to millions of listeners, Arnold’s portrayal of Jack Woolley helped us greatly in the fight against dementia, raising awareness of a condition that affects 800,000 people in the UK.

“We are so grateful to Arnold for helping bring dementia out of the shadows. We are also hugely thankful for his direct support of Alzheimer’s Society. He has provided many quotes of support over the years, as well as talking part in Memory Walk, our flagship fundraising initiative back in September 2006.

“Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Beryl, daughter Caroline and all the Peters family.”

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer’s disease.