More than 100 current and former cast members of BBC Radio 4's The Archers have written to BBC Director General Matt Brittin, urging him to commit to keeping the recording of the soap in Birmingham.
The letter argues that moving The Archers out of the Midlands would be the equivalent of 'Corrie leaving the north-west' or 'EastEnders leaving the south-east'. The signatories believe that abandoning the West Midlands 'risks ripping out the heart of Ambridge'.
Existential threat warning
'Removing the recording of The Archers from the Midlands and divorcing the production team from the cast will have a tangible impact on the quality of the programme and represents an existential threat to its future', the letter states.
The letter highlights the show's history and heritage, reminding Matt Brittin that The Archers – which has been running since 1951 – has always been recorded and produced in the West Midlands. It also raises the fact that many local actors receive their first professional credit working on The Archers, as well as the importance of local employment.
Flagship facilities call
'A flagship show deserves flagship facilities, from which both the BBC and the city of Birmingham would benefit for decades,' the letter added.
Earlier this year, The Archers celebrated its 75th anniversary with a national stage tour. Eight of Ambridge's most beloved voices appeared in the live production – Timothy Bentinck (David Archer), Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge), Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller), Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary), Charlotte Martin (Susan Carter), Ben Norris (Ben Archer), Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) and Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin) – who performed in two rotating casts of four.
The Archers remains one of the BBC's most loved programmes. It reaches millions of listeners every week, and regularly tops the list of most popular on-demand programmes for listeners under 35 on BBC Sounds.
