Meet Madeleine Leslay who plays Chelsea Horrobin

The village of Ambridge is noticeably livelier since Madeleine Leslay burst onto the scene as Chelsea Horrobin. Her first scenes were with her on-air mum Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) as Chelsea tried to get to grips with learning to drive. Since then, we've heard Chelsea clash with the likes of Mia and Lilian and come to the rescue of Blake and Denise.

Here, Maddie tells us about how she got into acting (and how Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) had a hand in that), what it's been like getting to know Chelsea and she hopes for her future. Plus she outlines her fantasy Archers storyline which brilliantly includes a sausage dog called Rodney!

Hi Maddie! We’re really enjoying hearing you as Chelsea in The Archers, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Bristol. My father is English and my mother is French so was brought up bilingual speaking both English and French at home.

If Maddie could visit Ambridge she's most likely be attempting yoga at Spiritual Home

I knew from a young age that acting was what I was most drawn to, and at 18 was offered a place at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for three years where my love of Radio blossomed. I was thrilled to be selected to take part in the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award. It is also where I met my wonderful teacher Sunny Ormonde, who you will know as Lilian Bellamy and I was very inspired by her.

I’ve always loved singing as well as acting so a few years after graduating and performing in various plays and Shakespeare productions, I decided to do a Masters at The Royal Acadamy of Music in Musical Theatre which led to me playing Sophie in Mamma Mia at The Novello Theatre in London’s West End.

What else are you up to outside of The Archers?

As well as tearing through Ambridge with a comb and scissors in my hand; I have recently finished a production of Romeo and Juliet in Stafford playing Juliet. I also narrate audiobooks alongside which I love doing as reading is a huge passion of mine. (Not sure Chelsea would share this passion!)

What inspired you to follow career in acting?

I have always loved stories and was very fortunate that my Mum used to take me and my sister to the theatre a lot as kids. I had some wonderful and inspiring drama teachers growing up and my parents were incredibly supportive of both my sister and I going into the industry.

What’s it been like getting to know Chelsea?

I have absolutely loved getting to know Chelsea! It feels like Christmas when the scripts arrive and I usually sit down by the front door and open them straight away and I don’t move until I’ve read them all. I just never know what she is going to get up to next. She is such a brave, charismatic, fiercely loyal, impulsive, feisty, colourful young lady who’s trying to find her place in the world. Yet although she is all those things, at the same time she is vulnerable and despite her confidence she can be very insecure. This is gold dust for me as an actor and a real challenge.

I adore the fact that she is constantly changing, she can be so lovely one second and that can completely switch by the end of an episode. I also love that she speaks to so many different characters and reacts differently to each, she certainly says it how it is, a trait she definitely inherited from her mother.

Tell us about your audition – that’s when you met Susie who plays Chelsea’s mum Tracy?

I have to say that the audition for the role was one of the friendliest I’ve ever had and the most fun. I felt so welcome and I read in with the amazing Susie who plays my mum. I had been listening to her voice on loop to try and learn Tracy’s intonation patterns and accent. It was hard to not be a bit star struck when I met Susie to be honest, I don’t think I hid it very well haha!

I remember reading in for the role of Beth as well as they were casting at the same time, needless to say my Brummie accent left a lot to be desired. Whenever I have scenes with Susie, and Tracy and Chelsea are together, it really feels like coming home and back to where it all started in the audition room.

What’s it like now having Taylor cast as Chelsea’s brother Brad?

It is so fantastic to now have Taylor joint the cast as Brad, the family now feels complete. Taylor has brought such a sincerity and sweetness to Brad it’s impossible not to love him. He is so different to Chelsea and they argue a lot but they also love each other to death. I feel like she would do anything for her brother even if she won’t admit it.

What’s it like being the new person on a show that’s over 70 years old?

I still pinch myself every time I walk into the studio. It has been a dream of mine for a long time to just be on the show, let alone a regular character. My Grandma has a loyal listener from the very beginning so it was such a special moment telling her that I had joined the cast. I will always remember that moment.

Acting alongside the likes of Susie Riddell, Carole Boyd, John Rowe and other high calibre actors have really encouraged me to step up my game as an actor and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Chelsea is pursuing a career in hairdressing but what do you think she would be like as a farmer?

This is a wonderful question. I am not sure Chelsea has been blessed with the qualities that make a good farmer. She would struggle with the early mornings. I’m not sure she owns a pair of wellies. Her nails wouldn’t fare too well, her extensions would get knotty and her makeup would smudge, she would also need regular breaks to check her phone and film some Tik Tok videos and Instagram stories, and that’s just getting to the fields.... But she would be fantastic at running their social media and marketing.

Who’s your secret Ambridge crush? (Or is there an actor or character you like to listen to most?)

This is such a tricky question! Ambridge crush, well I really loved it when Chelsea and Blake had some episodes together. I remember thinking that I really hope they stay in each other’s lives somehow.

I was really excited to meet Ryan Kelly who plays Jazzer, I have always loved listening to his voice and now we regularly have scenes together as Jazzer has moved in to No.6 The Green (another pinch me moment). I was also taught at drama school by Sunny (Lilian) so it is such a lovely feeling to be standing there acting with someone I hugely admire and learned a lot from. I also love Lynda, Clarrie, Susan, Lilian and Tracy. I also have a soft spot for Alan. Their voices never fail to make me smile.

If you could visit Ambridge where would we most likely find you?

I think if I were in Ambridge you would probably find me in completely the opposite places to Chelsea. I think you’d probably find me in Kate’s holistic therapy retreat ‘Spiritual Home’ attempting some yoga (I’m not very good, but I love it). I also might be volunteering with Alistair, Jakob and Denise as I’d love to work with the animals. I might also check out one of Russ’s art exhibitions too. Then I would finish it off with a pint or two at the Bull.

If you were in charge of The Archers what storyline would you run?

Ooooh what a delicious question. The script writers do such a fantastic job I wouldn’t know where to begin. First of all I think that Chelsea deserves a shot at success. She gets her own salon in Borsetshire that does really well, it takes off and she opens up branches all over the UK and becomes an entrepreneur. She then can buy her mum a big house. Chelsea would stay in Ambridge and people would come to her salon for advice and for some good chat.

Or perhaps, for a little bit of excitement, once Brad has gone to university. Chelsea and Tracy throw caution to the wind and embark on a Thelma and Louise style road trip and come back with matching tattoos, a million pounds and a sausage dog called Rodney.