The world's longest-running soap opera, The Archers, could be moving from Birmingham to London as the BBC explores new cost-cutting measures, despite opposition from cast members and listeners.
The programme has been a flagship of BBC Radio 4 since 1951, but its recording studio could soon leave Birmingham for the capital. The corporation is now considering using existing studios across the UK after shelving plans to create a new studio at the BBC's Tea Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, which would have cost £1.5 million.
Transport costs could outweigh building expenses
Susie Riddell, who plays Tracy Horrobin, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she believes the cost of transporting the whole cast and crew down to London will soon exceed the price of building a new studio.
“People are either going to have to be transported to another studio, probably London, from Birmingham. That is going to cost a lot of money. We believe that within about five years, the cost of transporting everybody to make the programme in a different city is going to outweigh that £1.5m.”
She said that for the last couple of years, the cast and crew have been under the impression that they would be moving to the new Digbeth studio, but now realise moving to the capital is the far more likely option.
Production challenges and costs
“So that would require moving the production team to the studio every single time we're recording.
“We have special sets that need to be put up. We have to have different acoustic flooring to be in different places. A dead room, which deadens the sound, so we can sound like we're outside.
“There is a cost that comes with that – but we feel that £1.5m to be spent on a flagship BBC programme, iconic British institution that is The Archers, listened to by five million people, is well worth the money and hardly makes a dent, sadly, in that £500m deficit the BBC have got to find from somewhere.”
Cast and alumni urge BBC to stay
Many current and former cast members of the show, including Dame Judi Dench and Bridgerton's Adjoa Andoh, have written to director-general Matt Brittin urging him to keep the drama in Birmingham.
The letter said: “We believe it's a great betrayal of the people of Birmingham, its creative industries and its local businesses, all of whom benefit from The Archers' presence in the city.
“It would also bring to an end a 75-year relationship between programme and place.
“The Archers leaving the Midlands is akin to Corrie leaving the North West, or EastEnders leaving the South East.”
It went on to say that leaving the city would risk “ripping out the heart of Ambridge”, the fictional village the drama is set in.
“A flagship show deserves flagship facilities, from which both the BBC and the city of Birmingham would benefit for decades.”
Other famous alumni who signed the letter include Felicity Jones, Mark Bonnar, Hugh Dennis, Lucy Davies, Claire Skinner and Kellie Bright.
BBC response
A BBC spokesperson said: “We recognise and value The Archers' long-standing relationship with the West Midlands, which remains an important part of the programme's future and The Archers production team will remain in their current home in the Mailbox and move, as planned, to the Tea Factory in Digbeth in early 2028.
“However, after careful consideration, as part of the BBC's wider drive to reduce costs, we are no longer building a new recording studio for the Archers in the Tea Factory.
“We're currently assessing the BBC's existing studio facilities around the UK as well as other external studio options in the West Midlands to find a more cost-effective solution which will deliver significant savings whilst also maintaining The Archers' high production standards.”
