Radio actress Patricia Gallimore has played the role for 45 years, making her one of the longest-serving soap opera actors in the world.

Pat has been involved in many crises over her almost five-decades in Ambridge, including an escherichia coli outbreak in the dairy, Tony being crushed by a bull and being a prosecution witness in her daughter Helen's attempted murder trial.. Gallimore describes the character as "hard-working, long-suffering, loyal; sometimes bossy".

[2] Gallimore said in a 2015 interview her character had "mellowed a bit" from her days being "radical and free-thinking, supporting women's lib".

"These have helped her survive all the crises – the death of John, Pat’s mental health, Helen’s pregnancy… I think she’s great and I enjoy playing her.

In March 1978, the couple took over the tenancy of Bridge Farm after the departure of Mike Tucker, who left to replace Tony as Hadyn Evans' partner.

She enrolled as a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and cancelled her husband's subscription to the Daily Express in favour of The Guardian.

[5] Her move to supporting progressive issues almost spelled the end of her marriage, when she became close with Women's Studies lecturer Roger Coombes.

[4] The couple would hit many speed bumps but in 1988, their new dairy block opened and they were soon supplying butter and yoghurt to locals and fancy delicatessens in London.

Her new doctor, Tim Hathaway, prescribed her medication and counselling sessions to talk about the tragedy, and Pat began turning a corner.

[7] After several growth years, a major supermarket chain placed an order which would triple Tom's sausage and pig farm production.

Tony's brother-in-law Brian Aldridge stepped in and bought Tom's business to Home Farm, allowing his nephew to get back on his feet.

Environmental health officers told Pat in 2011 that there had been an outbreak of escherichia coli had been linked to Bridge Farm's ice cream.

"[3] Pat's daughter Helen stood trial in 2016 for allegedly stabbing her husband Rob, following years of domestic violence.