York panto royalty to reunite for performance in The Archers

Two of York’s most-well known pantomime stars are reuniting to perform in the world’s longest running soap opera.

Berwick Kaler is once again joining Martin Barrass – who he shared the stage with for 38 years – to star in The Archers as himself.

Martin has been part of the BBC radio drama, which started in 1951, since 2022.

He was invited to join by the show’s editor Jeremy Howe, who was theatre director of York Theatre Royal in the 1980s – where he met Martin and Berwick.

Martin Barrass and Berwick Kaler in the 1984 Theatre Royal Pantomime (Image: The Press) Martin has now appeared in 80 episodes playing Mick – a ‘jack the lad’ who lives in a campervan parked at the drama’s Bull pub.

As Christmas comes, a pantomime is taking place in the fictional village of Ambridge.

But they need someone to train the dame.

Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass in Old Granny Goose at the Grand Opera House (Image: Supplied) Speaking to The Press, Martin says there was only one man for the job: Berwick. “I know this guy who works at York Theatre Royal, I’ve watched nearly every show – I think he’ll just come down,” his character Mick says in the drama.

And Berwick obliges – he even joins the panto.

“I’m playing Buttons to his ugly sister,” says Martin.

Martin Barrass and Berwick Kaler at York’s Coppergate Centre for a Secret Switch-on of the the Christmas Lights in 2021 (Image: David Harrison) Berwick previously told The Press that he would star in the show for four episodes over the Christmas period.

“They’re going to have me playing a dame or something,” he said in October. “Berwick Kaler will be playing Berwick Kaler.”

He and Martin’s characters haven’t met in the drama. But, in reality, the pair have known each other for more than 40 years.

‘I thought this is the greatest comic performance ever’ – Martin recalls watching Berwick on stage

Martin, 68, recalls first seeing Berwick, 78, on stage at the York Theatre Royal in 1979, when he starred alongside the now Hollywood megastar Gary Oldman in pantomime Dick Whittington.

He later saw Berwick on stage in London during a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Gary Oldman as Puss in the Dick Whittington panto at the York Theatre Royal in December 1979 (Image: Archive) “I thought this is the greatest comic performance ever,” he says, adding he told Berwick that afterwards.

Martin says Berwick took him to meet the cast and told them: “This is Martin Barrass; he’s going to be playing my son in the panto.”

Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass in The Grand Old Dame of York panto in 2018 (Image: Frank Dwyer) The idea had been mentioned before but hadn’t been confirmed.

“My jaw dropped,” says Martin. “I couldn’t believe it. [Berwick] said: ‘I might not be good at some things, but I can judge someone in their eyes… I think with you there’s an instant likeability, you reach into children’s hearts – you behave like a daft kid.’”

The pair’s pantomimes would go on to achieve legendary status in York.

When it came to performing for the radio, Martin says he had to change how he acted because it was no longer to a live crowd.

“You imagine it’s just one person sitting in a living room or one family sitting together,” he explains.

He had to adjust to radio, even being told to take a step back from the microphone.

“It’s my big gob, I’m speaking to reach the back of the gallery,” he says. “I’ve got to tone it down a bit to speak to one person. It takes a bit of getting used to.”