Shula Hebden-Lloyd (also Archer) is a fictional character from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers. The character was introduced as the eldest daughter of Phil Archer and Jill Archer in 1958. Shula has been portrayed by Liverpudlian actress Judy Bennett since 1971. As of 2021, Bennett has played the role for 51 years, making her one of the longest-serving soap opera actors in the world. A devout Christian with a heavy involvement in the Ambridge church and its Parish Council, Shula has been featured in some of the show's most controversial and high-profile storylines including the death of her first husband Mark, an affair with the village doctor, and struggles to having children which ultimately led to a successful IVF treatment. The Archers official website describes Shula as being a "pillar of the church" whose "first love was horses" and has a "sometimes troubled heart". Bennett has been married to co-star Charles Collingwood, who plays Brian Aldridge, since 1975.