Chris Gittins

{{Short description|British character actor (1902–1988)}} {{Use British English|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} '''Chris Gittins''' (4 July 1902 – 21 August 1988)<ref name=imdb>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1542451/ Chris Gittins at IMDb]</ref><ref name=Times>{{cite news |author= |title=Chriss Gittins; Obituary |work=The Times |location=London |date=23 August 1988}}</ref> was a British character actor who played the role of Walter Gabriel in the long-running BBC radio series ''The Archers''.<ref name=Wainwright>{{cite news |last=Wainwright |first=Martin |date=22 August 1988 |title=Actor dies, and role of Walter Gabriel passes with him |work=The Guardian |location=London }}</ref><ref>Smethurst, William (1996) ''The Archers; the true story: the history of radio's most famous programme''. London: Michael O'Mara {{ISBN|1-85833-620-1}}</ref>

Gittins was born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, where he also died.<ref name=Times/><ref name=Wainwright/> He was the son of a gas fitter who became involved with the theatre as an actor, producer and director, later alternating between the theatre and radio.<ref name=Times/> His first radio part was on 13 November 1935.<ref name=RT35>{{cite magazine |author= |title=Red in the Morning' A Mystery Play |magazine=Radio Times |publisher=BBC |date=8 November 1935 }}</ref> He specialised in Black Country and The Midlands accents.<ref name=Times/> As well as ''The Archers'' and radio plays he took part in ''Children's Hour'' and the British Forces Broadcasting Service.<ref name=Times/>

He played the role of Walter Gabriel, a tenant farmer, in ''The Archers'' for 35 years from 1953 to 1988,<ref name=Wainwright/> and was known nationally for the character's phrases "Oh dear, oh lor" and "Me old pal, me old beauty".<ref name=Times/><ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news |author= |title=The Archers: the faces behind the names |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/8217868/The-Archers-the-faces-behind-the-names.html?image=2 |work=The Telegraph |date=21 December 2010 |access-date=8 April 2019 }}</ref> He also appeared in several TV series including ''Hilda Lessways'' (1959) and ''Swizzlewick'' (1964).<ref name=imdb/>

He died as a widower, leaving one daughter.<ref name=Times/><ref name=Wainwright/> He was awarded the MBE in 1984.<ref name=Times/>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gittins, Chris}} Category:1902 births Category:1988 deaths Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:English male radio actors