Deadly infernos, hostage dramas, modern slavery and a plethora of affairs are among the compelling storylines that make The Archers a ratings topper 75 years after its nationwide launch. Tagged as 'an every day story of country folk', it was created as 'a farming Dick Barton' – on the advice of a Lincolnshire farmer. He suggested the post-war writers aim for the same gripping pace and tight scripts of the hugely successful Dick Barton Special Agent, which raked in ratings for the BBC.
The result is that, after more than 28,000 episodes, The Archers is still pulling in 5 million listeners a week for Radio 4 and remains the station’s most listened to non-news show. Editor Jeremy Howe says of the world’s longest running radio drama: 'Being one of life’s optimists, I think a 75th birthday is a time to be looking forward, to consider what The Archers will be like in 75 years time. Octogenarian Rosie Archer will doubtless be baking a lemon drizzle cake in the solar powered Brookfield [farm] Aga.'
Salesman-turned BBC producer Godfrey Baseley created The Archers after being tasked with educating farmers about modern agricultural techniques. Described as a 'serial play of country life' at its launch by the Radio Times, the first of five pilot episodes was aired on 29 May 1950, on the BBC Midlands Home Service - with the first broadcast being aired nationally on New Year’s Day 1951.
Set in the fictional location of Ambridge in Borsetshire and centred on a farming family called the Archers, it immediately won viewers’ hearts. And it became an important platform to showcase serious issues, ranging from foot and mouth disease to coercive control, peppered with plenty of drama and stories of salacious affairs to spice up village life.
Ryan Kelly, 49, who is blind after being born without eyes, has played Ambridge bad boy Jack 'Jazzer' McCreary since 2000. He says of The Archers: 'It’s easy to fit it in. You can listen while doing the washing up. I started listening to The Archers when I was 11. I still pinch myself to be playing Jazzer. He came in roaring. He stole cars, he took drugs, he ended up in hospital in the first six months, nearly dead. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride at the beginning and now he’s calmed down.'
Twelve minute episodes of The Archers run six nights a week, from Sunday to Friday, with a 75 minute omnibus on a Sunday. Actress Annabelle Dowler, 52, who’s played kind-hearted Kirsty Miller since 2001, says: 'It’s 12 minutes of sacred escapism. Of course, everybody knows the theme tune, even if they don’t listen. The way The Archers is listened to has changed over the years. In the 1950s and 60s you’d have families listening around the table. But now it’s much more of a sort of individual personal listening experience.'
