Archers, The (Radio 4)

As I type, sitting on my tractor, my sheep dog sitting obediently by my side, I munch on an organically grown turnip, dressed in tweed with my wellies caked in mud I likes to listen to the radio, I do. Or rather that’s the common misconception of this wonderful radio 4 “soap opera”. The reality is that it’s wonderful, under rated entertainment for all the family and for any-one, not just chuchters and country bumpkins.

The History
...home service (which later became radio4) radio station. Its intentions were to act as an information medium to the farmers, whilst providing entertainment. So, info on subjects such as foot and mouth used to be very unsubtly inserted into the show in-between oohheerrs and moos. Nowadays info is still inserted into the show, but it’s done much more discreetly and the emphasis is on entertainment. One thing that the Archers beats TV soaps on are that ... more

As I type, sitting on my tractor, my sheep dog sitting obediently by my side, I munch on an organically grown turnip, dressed in tweed with my wellies caked in mud I likes to listen to the radio, I do. Or rather that’s the common misconception of this wonderful radio 4 “soap opera”. The reality is that it’s wonderful, under rated entertainment for all the family and for any-one, not just chuchters and country bumpkins.

The History

The Archers originated in 1952, on the home service (which later became radio4) radio station. Its intentions were to act as an information medium to the farmers, whilst providing entertainment. So, info on subjects such as foot and mouth used to be very unsubtly inserted into the show in-between oohheerrs and moos. Nowadays info is still inserted into the show, but it’s done much more discreetly and the emphasis is on entertainment. One thing that the Archers beats TV soaps on are that it is usually up to date. So when something newsy happens in real life some of the cast leave their farms, travel down to the broadcasting studio and do a special broadcast. As an example when the Queen Mother died, two of the cast discussed it on the next broadcast edition as a conversation. It also announces events in real-life, such as the Queens Jubilee, so the listener can keep abreast of real events.
The original family was The Archers. I’m too young to remember the series this far back, but the founder members were Dan and Doris Archer, a hard working farmer and his wife. Over the years, he eventually owned his own farm and passed this onto his son, Phil Archer (Norman Painting in real life), who is the only original cast member still in the series.
The series is set in the fictional village of Ambridge, near the fictional town of Borchester. There’s the local pub, hotel, country retreats, farms, etc.
The scripts closely follow real life and real farming life. So there was high drama, tension and sadness when foot and mouth and BSE were problems. Farmers have lost their farms and had to be relocated in council estates and there have been dramas of fires, accidents and deaths. Most people remember where they were when it was announced President Kennedy or Princes Diana were tragically killed. I still remember where I was when John Archer was found dead by his father, and the emotional drama that unfolded over the airwaves. Many older Ciaoers will remember the first Archers death of newly married Grace Archer who died in a stable blaze trying to save her beloved horse.

The Out Laws had their uses

This is the only good thing to come out of my relationship with my in-laws because they were too stingy and set in their ways to have a TV, I had to listen to the Archers whenever I visited Mrs B, who was Miss P then. Radio 4 would always be on and I had to listen to this whilst wooing Miss P. So here’s proof that brainwashing does work. So I’ve been an Archer’s Addict (as regular and fanatical fans are called) since the early 90’s. When I went to Belize this was broadcast on the local radio station and was an interest and a taste of home. So a further three months of brainwashing secured my addiction.

Time to do the Dishes

As I work from home now I can listen to every broadcast and never tire of listening to the voices of the cast, especially when Debbie Aldridge casts her spell over the radio waves. I like to do the dishes whilst listening as each broadcast lasts for 13 minutes. So at 1402 and 1902 hours I can be seen donning my marigolds and cranking up the wireless. The 1402 edition is a repeat of the night before. There is also an omnibus edition on a Sunday morning at 1002 hours. The two minutes before each broadcast is the news headlines which I usually listen to as Radio 4 have excellent news broadcast.
On the rare occasions when Mrs B lowers herself to do the dishes I tune in through the computer by logging on to the radio 4 website (url below) and listening live whilst practicing my mouse control by playing cards. This website also allows you to listen to the last 7 days broadcasts. It also lists a brief synopsis and you can request a daily synopsis to your e-mail box every day, but then you wouldn’t be able to hear Debbie’s angelic voice, or the annoying shrieks of Linda Snell. I don’t think Eddie’s half baked schemes would sound as funny written down. At the moment this is synchronised dancing diggers, using JCB machines.
It is also possible to listen to Radio 4 through the satellite dish on the telly. We have Sky TV and access it through the radio programmes section. So for 13 minutes I can put my feet up, listen to my favourite radio programme, and do my current tapestry at the same time.

The Gossip and Sex bit

Well I’ve been going on for a while and haven’t mentioned naughty stuff or the mistress. So incase you think this programme is all farming and cake stalls then think again. The local squire has been having an affair with the doctor’s wife and is now with child. The Doc beat him up, then had to treat him and now he’s seeing the vicar. And then there’s the college lecturer who makes a habit of sleeping with his students. There’s drugs, provided by the local vet who funds his own habit by drug dealing, illegitimate children, mixed marriages, local girls leading young innocent boys astray and of course the antics of the Grundies. The Grundies are the equivalent of the Dingles and Battersby’s. They’re always in trouble and dreaming up daft schemes to make money. At the moment it’s dancing diggers, but in the past it’s been mooning garden gnomes, illicit cider, poaching (and their lad is the local gamekeeper) and a painting cow!

Web Sites

There are two very good web sites devoted to the show. I won’t go too much into their merits here, as I’d love another Ciaoer to do so as I love to hear about others thoughts on the show. I enjoy skimming through their message boards where fellow Archers Addicts discuss storylines. The quizzes are good fun and there are sections to learn more about the cast. The urls are:

http://www.thearchers.co.uk/archers/DesktopDefault.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers/

The Challenge

I only know of one Archers addict on Ciao and that’s suemagee. But I’d love to have a hot chocolate with Moose and tune into the Archers and show her that Radio 4 is capable of quality, entertaining programmes, and I’m sure in no time she’d be an Archers Addict too. I’d love to list all the characters in the show here, but sadly, Ciao only allows us to write 2000 words at the most. Instead, I’ll throw down my first ever Ciao op challenge and let everyone on Ciao who’s an Archers Addict to come out of the closet and help me compile a list of characters. Tell us whom they are, memorable storylines, the actor behind the voice, why you love them, etc. Please feel free to leave a message in my guestbook if you take up this challenge, as I'd hate to miss your op. So go over to the Ciao Café and tell me who your favourite archer character is and why….
 

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