Chris Gittins MBE (4 July 1902 - 21 August 1988)[1] [2] was a British character actor who played the role of Walter Gabriel in the long-running BBC radio series The Archers.[3] [4]
Gittins was born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, where he also died.[2] [3] 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.[2] His first radio part was on 13 November 1935.[5] He specialised in Black Country and The Midlands accents.[2] As well as The Archers and radio plays he took part in Children's Hour and the British Forces Broadcasting Service.[2]
He played the role of Walter Gabriel, a tenant farmer, in The Archers for 35 years from 1953 to 1988,[3] and was known nationally for the character's phrases "Oh dear, oh lor" and "Me old pal, me old beauty".[2] [6] He also appeared in several TV series including Hilda Lessways (1959) and Swizzlewick (1964).[1]
He died as a widower, leaving one daughter.[2] [3] He was awarded the MBE in 1984.[2]