The man behind the voice of one of the characters in Radio 4’s The Archers packed out a Sidmouth venue when he came to speak about his latest book.

Tim Bentinck, who landed the part of David Archer in the world’s longest running radio show in 1982, spoke at Kennaway House as part of the venue’s latest Meet the Author event.

The actor, from London, visited the town for the first time to speak about the release of his autobiography - Being David Archer: And Other Unusual Ways of Earning a Living.

Following his talk, The Herald caught up with Tim to see how his visit went.

When asked what inspired his book, he said: “My father started an autobiography but sadly got cancer and died before he was able to finish it.

“He hadn’t really started it and had only got up to when he was about 15. But, he’d written lots down. There was lots of great information with stuff I knew nothing about.

“He kept saying he would come back to stories that he’d mentioned and finish it later but he never did, which was such a shame because he had such an interesting life.

“I decided I wanted to do that in a private journal for my children and grandchildren, then I got an email from my literary agent asking if I wanted to write an autobiography and I said funnily enough, I have already started.”

Tim said so far he’d had great feedback about his book. He added he had really tried to tell the truth about what it was like being an actor.

Tim said: “It is just a slog, one minute you’re up and the next you’re down and you have no money.

“It is good advice for young actors - you don’t have to be famous to do good work and be satisfied artistically.

“It’s hard work but fun. I’d rather be doing what I’m doing than working in the bank.”

When asked what advice he would give young actors Tim said: “It is primarily down to luck.

“It comes down to the right agent and being incredibly proactive and getting out there to socialise. You cannot sit and wait for the phone to ring.”