The Archers is a British radio soap opera broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word station. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural setting". Having aired more than 20,000 episodes, it is the world's longest-running drama, by both number of episodes and duration. The first of five pilot episodes was aired on Whit Monday, 29 May 1950, on the BBC Midlands Home Service, and the first episode broadcast nationally went out on New Year's Day 1951. A significant show in British popular culture, and with more than five million listeners, it is Radio 4's most listened-to non-news programme, and with more than one million listeners via the internet, the programme holds the record for BBC Radio online listening figures. In February 2019, a panel of 46 broadcasting industry experts, of whom 42 had a professional connection to the BBC, listed The Archers as the second-greatest radio programme of all time. Established partly with the aim of educating farmers following World War II, The Archers soon became a popular source of entertainment for the population at large, attracting nine million listeners by 1953.
Setting The Archers is set in the fictional village of Ambridge in the fictional county of Borsetshire, in England. Borsetshire is situated between what are in reality the contiguous counties of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, south of Birmingham in The Midlands of England. Ambridge is possibly based on the village of Cutnall Green, though various other villages claim to be the inspiration for Ambridge; The Bull, Ambridge's pub, is modelled on The Old Bull in Inkberrow, and Hanbury's St Mary the Virgin is often used as a stand-in for Ambridge's parish church, St Stephen's. Other fictional villages include Penny Hassett, Loxley Barrett, Darrington, Hollerton, Edgeley, Waterley Cross and Lakey Green. The county town of Borsetshire is Borchester, and the nearest big city is the cathedral city of Felpersham. Felpersham also has a university. Anywhere further from Ambridge may be referred to humorously with comments such as "That's on the other side of Felpersham!", but characters do occasionally venture further: several attended the Countryside Alliance march in London, and there have been references to the gay scene in Manchester's Canal Street. There have been scenes set in other places in the United Kingdom and abroad, and characters have moved overseas to countries including South Africa and Hungary.
Ambridge locations
Ambridge has a village shop and post office, which survived thanks to the philanthropy of Jack Woolley (d. 2014). The business subsequently became a community shop managed by Susan and staffed by a team of volunteers.
The Bull, the village's only pub, is perhaps the most recognisable structure in Ambridge along with St Stephen's Church. The church has undergone many changes over the years, and has had a number of vicars. The eight bells are rung by a group led by Neil Carter. Bridge Farm is a 168-acre (68 ha) farm previously on the Berrow Estate, but now owned by Pat and Tony Archer. The farm became wholly dedicated to organic farming in 1984, in a storyline inspired by a scriptwriter's visit to Brynllys farm in Ceredigion, the home of Rachel's Organic. In 2003, Tom Archer began producing his Bridge Farm pork sausages. In early 2013, the family decided to sell their dairy herd and buy organic milk instead, and the following year Tony bought a small Aberdeen Angus herd. Some years later it was decided to acquire a herd of Montbéliardes, and the farm recommenced producing organic milk to ensure the quality of cheese, ice cream and yoghurts. More recently they have added goats to the farm, initially as a hobby, but, having acquired a buck, they are now also looking to sell the meat. Brookfield Farm is a 469-acre (190 ha) mixed farm which was managed, and subsequently purchased, by Dan Archer, and then run by his son Phil. After Phil's retirement in 2001, his son David took over. Grange Farm was a working farm run by the Grundys as tenants until their eviction in 2000. The farmhouse, along with 50 acres (20 ha) of land, was sold to Oliver Sterling. Home Farm is a 1,922-acre (778 ha) farm, by far the largest in Ambridge, owned by the Aldridge family. Brian and Jennifer Aldridge had to sell the farmhouse, however, and move elsewhere in the village. Over the years Home Farm has expanded into soft fruit and deer farming. Willow Farm was owned by Roy and Betty Tucker. Following Betty's death in 2005, the house was divided to accommodate their son Roy and his family. Now, Brian Aldridge lives in part of it. The farmland is home to Neil Carter's pigs. Arkwright Hall is a large Victorian mansion with a 17th-century atmosphere. The building served as a community centre for many years, containing a soundproofed room and a field studies centre. Later it fell into disrepair, but was renovated when Jack Woolley leased the mansion to the Landmark Trust; architect Lewis Carmichael, who married Nigel Pargetter's mother Julia, led the restoration of the building to its Victorian splendour. Grey Gables, once a country club, is now a luxurious hotel. The late Caroline Sterling bought it with her husband Oliver. The hotel boasts a pool, a spa, a health club and a golf course. The hotel was sold in 2022 and was closed while undergoing extensive refurbishment. Lower Loxley Hall is a large 300-year-old country house located just outside Ambridge. It serves as a conference centre and wedding venue, and is open to the public.
Characters
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
