01/01/20 - The Archers at 70: the farmers of Ambridge

Farming Today

• Episode: 01/01/20 - The Archers at 70: the farmers of Ambridge
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:39
• Published: 2021-01-01 07:00

The Archers was first broadcast on 1st January 1951. To celebrate it's 70th Birthday, Charlotte Smith looks back at how the programme has chronicled the changes in farming, and asks how the future landscape of Ambridge could look. She speaks to the Editor, Jeremy Howe, about the role of farming in the drama, to the Agricultural Storyline Advisor, Sarah Swadling, about how fictional farms can be used to explore very real changes in farming policy over the next few years, and to the actor who plays David Archer, Tim Bentinck, about the secrets behind the sounds. We also delve into the archives, uncovering gems like a 50s egg-washing machine! Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons