The Archers

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Most middle-class thread ever!

BBC Radio 4 soap about farming folk that has been going on longer than most people's parents have been alive. I don't know anyone under the age of 40 who listens regularly, but whenever I hear a snatch of it anywhere it's like foetal regression. As, indeed, is most of Radio 4, which surely hasn't changed AT ALL since 1965.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Inspired by RickyT and JtN on the Valentine's crush thread, needless to say.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I never used to be able to listen to R4 precisely because I found it so tweedy. However, one of the enjoyable developments of the slide into middle age has been having it (and the World Service) on constantly in the bedroom - hence waking up to the Archers on Sunday. (Actually, recently I have been waking up to the infernally perky Fi Glover presenting 'Broadcasting House':().

But like I said on the other thread, I listen to the Archers rather abstractly, as an imaginary Glen Gould concerto for found voices.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Sort of classic-ish. Immensely comforting, in a Sunday morning dinner's in the oven type of way, and it sure beats Hollyoaks. Of course, its country folk make Eastenders and Coronation Street characters look like paragons of realism, but I don't think anyone expects kitchen sink grit from it. Witness the reams of complaints whenever it goes through one of its periodic 'issues' spasms.

I am still shocked that anyone might have a crush on any of the characters, btw.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

B-b-b-but... THAT voice!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I listen to Radio 4. But I always switch off when the Archers come on. It's mental torture.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"Waking up to The Archers" is my new ILXphemism du jour.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the theme tune, isn't it.
(x-post)

― sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

The theme tune is classic! I can't be bothered with the show itelf though.

― robster (robster), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

The theme tune is like nails down the blackboard to me.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I went through a two year period where I had to hear it every night, but now a couple of times a week is enough - which usually ties in with which comedy shows are on: I always hear Monday's Archers unless Quote Unquote is on, in which case the radio not having been smashed into a thousand pieces is about as good as it gets. Sunday morning football meant I never listened to the omnibus much...

But Classic, yes. Often unintentionally hilarious when dealing with 'issues' (the recent homeless/heroin plot being a case in point), but never dull.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Quote Unquote - has there ever been a worse waste of BBC money and airtime?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Chris Moyles?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost

It is quite - quote unquote - funny. (© Humphrey Lyttleton)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

apparently someone here has the Archers theme as their ringtone! I'm glad my desk is not near theirs.

― MarkH (MarkH), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought I might have found somebody who actually liked Quote Unquote because of this website - http://www1c.btwebworld.com/quote-unquote/ - but then I read it and saw it was Nigel Rees' own page. :-/

Conversely, the older I get the more I like Just A Minute.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I like 'JaM' quite a lot if they've chosen good guests. Even Parsons can be funny, on occasion. These days, too often, you get the witless calibre of J*nny Ecl**r.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ross Noble is my favourite JaM panelist at the moment, although I like Linda Smith as well. Liza Tarbuck is surprisingly good value as well.

Actually JaM is a good topic for this thread as there's always an Archers actor as a guest every series. I AM KING OF THREAD LINKAGE!

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Sunday morning radio 4 is one of the most comforting things ever, especially if you've got long wave and you get the shipping forcast.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Just a Minute - C or D?

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought this was about Powell & Pressburger. My mistake.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 19:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought it was about the Archers of Loaf. My mistake.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Sounds like the model for the Australian institution 'Blue Hills' which ran until the mid-80s after stsrting in about 1674. It was always on in a fine minute slot between the news and the sports results and the el-blando theme music still gives me nightmares.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 12 February 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

if only he could keep wicket, we could get rid of Berry...

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 12 February 2004 04:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I long time archers fan all though my listening comes and goes in waves, currently on the outswing due to having worked most sundays recently.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 12 February 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

My dear wife is an addict, and NEVER misses an episode. She gets v. ratty if people try to talk when it's on. I think it's really boring. It's about the ideal length that I can go and wash the dishes while it's on though, so I don't mind it too much.

The musick "Barwick Green" from "My Native Heath" by Arthur Wood, is GREAT!!! TOTAL classick!! The only thing better = "Sailing By" by Ronald Binge (IE the shipping forecast musick)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I had a 'Radio 4 phase' when I was 22. I woke up one morning and thought, Is this it? The answer was 'no,' and now I listen to terrible commerical radio instead. R4's too insanely smug, although News Quiz/JaM I can handle. I know it's a cliche but the cosiness of R4 is so well-meaning it's like being drowned in cocoa. I'd like to hear what carmody reckons of 'The Archers'.

Powell & Pressburger = k-classic though

― ENRQ (Enrique), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The Archers is very much a tune in tune out thing on a Sunday morning for me. JtN is mad fancying Ruth 'ohhh DAAYviddd *big sigh like a steam train*' Archer. But Kenton is always good value, and I quite like the new vicar. It's the names that get me - who the hell is called Kenton/Shula/Fallon???

Quote Unquote makes me want to hurl, Just A Minute is grebt (I went to the recording at the Old Vic on Sunday and although I was disappointed Ross Noble wasn't doing it, Stephen Fry and Clement Freud nearly made up for it).

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Colin and Edith > JaM!!!

― ENRQ (Enrique), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I can almost understand JtN's take on Ruth Archer, but for me it's related to a girl I used to know and nostalgia rather than her voice per se. Which is why I wasn't surprised by how short she was, because that's how I picture her. :-/

Poker school = best current plotline.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't Ruth Archer meant to be prim and proper vicar's wife turned rampant village strumpet or something?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Possibly you're thinking of Shula? But I get hazy with the strumpetness.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

No, Ruth came to Brookfield as an agricultural student and fell for David once she got there. I think you're mixing her up with Shula who, despite being a bellringer and church warden, still managed to have an affair with the local GP.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 12 February 2004 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

But come to think of it didn't Janet (actual lady vicar) have an affair with Dr Hathaway and have to leave Ambridge? While Shula is possibly shagging the vet?

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 12 February 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

the bodily fluid exchange linkages in ambridge are very complex

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 12 February 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

No wonder all the cows have diseases.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 12 February 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

No, thats because of the badgers.

― Mooro (Mooro), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Those fucking badgers. The absolute classic 'ooooohhhrrr Daaayyrrvvid' from Ruth came at the end of that episode where he shot the badger, IIRC.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

According to Wikipedia, 15,000th episode tomorrow.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 6 November 2006 23:38 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

Just started listening to this again after leaving well alone for about a year. Is there a current storyline about someone marrying a hindu while the rest of the village looks on disapprovingly?

And Ruth is hott. But I've got a thing for geordie accents (Lauren Laverne, Jayne Middlemiss etc)

― NotEnough, Thursday, 8 January 2009 16:01 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

addictive

― robert bly is mrs. doubtfire? (Matt P), Friday, 2 April 2010 18:10 (fifteen years ago)

nine months pass...

A whole motherfucking day of the motherfucking Archers on Radio 7 before they Shake Ambridge to the Core. I'm hoping Moaty turns up with Gazza and his gun.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 2 January 2011 11:38 (fifteen years ago)

Can't wait tbh!

#sattc has been trending for days - Archers fans virtually killing each other trying to find out what's going to happen.

Surely gotta to be Lower Loxley related.

― specifically, the word talking (Ned Trifle II), Sunday, 2 January 2011 12:18 (fifteen years ago)

It's going to be a murder, I'm betting. As opposed to thingy losing her baby or someone dying in an accident.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 2 January 2011 12:22 (fifteen years ago)

Helen dying in premature birth, I reckon.

― progspeed you! black metallers (aldo), Sunday, 2 January 2011 13:18 (fifteen years ago)

Been following #sattc and am now fairly hyped up. Love the idea that it revolves around Terry Molloy actually being Davros.

― progspeed you! black metallers (aldo), Sunday, 2 January 2011 18:00 (fifteen years ago)

Bit of a non-event tbh.

― progspeed you! black metallers (aldo), Sunday, 2 January 2011 19:33 (fifteen years ago)

Should have got Gazza in to guest star.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 2 January 2011 19:41 (fifteen years ago)

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The Archers - C/D?