The Archers airs first-ever lesbian wedding in show's 75-year history – before shocking cliffhanger

Pip Archer and Stella Pryor got married in Sunday's episode.

Portrait of Lucy Speed and Daisy Badger

Yoshitaka Kono

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 11:06 am

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

Seventy-five years after beloved radio soap The Archers debuted, the programme has just featured its first ever lesbian wedding.

Ad

The latest episode, which aired on Sunday 18 October, saw Pip Archer (Daisy Badger) and Stella Pryor (Lucy Speed) get married during a storm.

In her vows, Stella said: "Whatever happens, we will weather it and I can promise you that I will do my very best to protect you from the worst of the storms that life throws at us. To look after you and your lovely girl Rosie the best I possibly can.

"To support you and adore you. My ultimate goal is to give you the happiest of lives, because you’re my universe Pip, and I couldn’t love you more. I cannot wait to be your wife."

Portrait of Daisy Badger and Lucy Speed

Portrait of Daisy Badger and Lucy Speed Yoshitaka Kono

Meanwhile, Daisy said: "I’m nervous – Stella just made me cry. That was so beautiful. Stella, my life is so much better and so much more interesting because of you. You excite me, you challenge me, but you ground me too and keep me on the straight and narrow, even though you’re not straight – and turns out nor am I.

"You were my friend, and then my girlfriend, and in a few minutes you’ll be my wife. Meeting you is like coming home, and I promise now in front of our beloved friends and family I will love you forever and ever."

Eddie Grundy and his wife Clarrie missed the ceremony after the roof of their pole barn came loose in the storm.

However, things took a dramatic turn as the episode ended with a cliffhanger, which saw Vince Casey and hairdressing student Chelsea Horrobin in peril. As they braved the storm to clear the road, a tree apparently fell on the latter.

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

What happens next will be revealed in Monday 19 October's episode, which will air at 7pm.

Speaking with Radio Times ahead of the wedding episode, it was suggested to Badger and Speed that an affair storyline could come up for their characters in future, which Badger said would be "quite spicy".

"It might be that Stella goes off. She did once mention a previous relationship being difficult," Badger said.

Speed added: "I think that Stella worries whether Pip was making the right decision. There’s bravery in coming out, finding yourself, falling for another woman."

It comes 20 years after the soap aired its first gay ceremony, with Adam Macy and Ian Craig entering into a civil partnership in 2006, before getting married in 2015.

The Archers airs Sunday to Friday at 7pm on BBC Radio 4.

Ad

Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...