Ever heard of The Archers? It is a VERY long running British soap opera (73 years and counting) broadcast in 15 minute episodes six days a week on BBC Radio 4.
I started listening as a teenager and have dipped in and out over the years and probably had my longest stint as a listener in the early 2000’s. Sunday morning listening to the “omnibus” edition became a family ritual.
I was a bit of an “addict” and when we moved to Canada, I could not wait for it to be launched as a podcast so I could easily download and listen.
And then it all went horribly wrong. A new writer offered a story line that would “Rock Ambridge to the Core” when in reality someone died falling off a roof and then everyone screamed at each other for ages afterwards. This was followed by trying to make the soap relevant to the “youth” audience and it just went downhill. I think I stopped listening for 15 or more years but I suddenly decided to give it another try… and I am loving it!
- The Archers daily – Sunday to Friday – 15 minutes each day – posted around 7:30pm GMT/BST
- The Archers Omnibus – the whole week in Ambridge every Sunday
- The Archers “Podcast” with Emma Freud – each Friday night
- Independent Archers podcast “All About the Archers“
- Follow on Mastodon or Bluesky probably available on other platforms but some are owned by fascists.
