How long has the archers been on the radio
Memorable Scene I: Tony's elder son John died in a tractor accident in His father found his body, already cold. Memorable Scene II: in , listeners heard married publican Sid Perks, then married to Kathy, get steamy in the shower with country singer Jolene Rogers.
Historic first II: Adam and partner Ian, the chef at local posh hotel Grey Gables, were joined in the village's first civil partnership in December Homophobia: Sid resigned the captaincy of the local cricket team when he discovered team-mate Adam was gay. The late landlord also had various run-ins with the gay couple who ran rival drinking establishment The Cat and Fiddle. Racism: in , Ugandan Asian lawyer Usha Gupta was the victim of a prolonged series of racially motivated attacks by a local gang.
Fellow villager Roy Tucker was revealed to be a member, a fact of which he is still ashamed. Sex discrimination: In some residents were appalled by the appointment of the parish's first female vicar, Janet Fisher. Peggy, played by June Spencer, now the sole remaining member of the original cast, refused to attend church because of the decision.
Bigotry: in , Usha, a Hindu, was again the victim when one time friend turned love rival Shula Hebden-Lloyd reacted unhappily to the news that she wasto marry motorcycle-riding vicar Alan Franks. Snobbery: Jennifer Archer was appalled when her daughter Alice secretly married working-class Chris Carter, meaning that Jennifer would be related to the low-life Horrobins.
Silent voices: more than characters, well-known to the audience, never utter a word. Rustic voices: Walter Gabriel, with his catchphrase "My old pal, my old beauty", used to be the voice of the local yokel.
His straw-strewn mantle has now passed toJoe Grundy. Lucy Davis, daughter of Jasper Carrott and the actress who played receptionist Dawn in The Office, played the role of Hayley for several years. Middle-class voices: for an everyday story of country folk, the Archers boasts a fair few posh accents. In Jazzer, the Scottish milkman, overdosed on the horse tranquilliser ketamine obtained from the local vet, Theo.
In Matt Crawford was imprisoned for fraud. Career criminal Clive Horrobin has been in prison for deeds including armed robbery in , which led to Ambridge busybody Susan Carter being jailed for six months for harbouring her fugitive brother. The programme has been made in Birmingham since the first episode.
Though radio began to decline owing to the popularity of television in the fifties, BBC still managed to attract millions of listeners to the show. They began airing it to other regions such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada and even there, they found a ready audience.
In the seventies, it became clear that there was a need for change if the programme was to survive the changes in attitudes among listeners. There was even talk of axing the show to make room for more exciting programs. Developments at this stage included new direction in acting and writing, and the result was an increase in listeners. There was also the inclusion of things happening in real life to resonate with the audience.
Other changes included making the show available as a podcast as time went by, allowing people to catch up with missed episodes. You can now catch up on The Archers at any time and take a walk down memory lane as you keep up with the drama. The Archers The official fan site. When will The Archers' trial verdict be reached?
Is Helen guilty or not guilty? Find out when BBC Radio 4's trial will come to a head. Helen's trial: the case for the defence Real-life barrister Piers Norsworthy argues that Helen is innocent The Archers trial continues — do you agree? Helen's trial: the case for the prosecution Real-life barrister Matthew Scott argues for a guilty verdict as The Archers trial continues — do you agree? The Archers: Helen's trial start date revealed The radio trial of the century is starting soon and it will be "shocking and moving" say Radio 4.
Will Helen Titchener walk free? Here's everything you need to know. Kim Cattrall is a long-time fan of The Archers but never watches Sex and the City The US actress tells Radio Times about her battle with insomnia and why she's dyeing everything indigo. Mark Lawson meets radio's most unhappy couple Why radio needs a revolution in We need to get radical on the airwaves to win bigger audiences, says Jane Anderson.