Radio 4

[Chris S]

Is anyone still listening to The Archers ?

It's not realistic.

There are about 5 gay characters in the storylines at any one time. If Ambridge was representative of the rest of the UK then there should be 95 straight characters in the same storylines.

The black characters don't face any racism (though Usha Gupta did when she first appeared 30 years ago) and there aren't any snobs either.

 

[stephec]

An update.

I still love radio 4, but can no longer stand do so. Since a certain big referendum the politics has been cranked up to 11.

I don't do politics. I don't care. Politics on a political programme, or even the news, is fine because I know not to listen to those shows.

However, they can't help themselves and even the comedians are cracking political jokes and scoring points for their own little chums. I'll let you decide what part of the political spectrum they tend to inhabit.

So it's world service now, and hoping that doesn't go the same way.

Please, no politics, no political observations, no right-on political jokes, except in a politics programme please, then at least we have the choice to be washing our hair when it comes on. I suspect my entreaties will fall on deaf ears at the Beeb, but hey ho- it's not like I have a TV licence

Have you written a stiff letter to the Times about it?

 

[Drago]

Have you written a stiff letter to the Times about it?

The Times don't publish letters that aren't signed blood.

 

[grumpydad]

Just out of interest, are we all aware that the archers was originally devised as a government propaganda tool.

 

[ColinJ]

Just out of interest, are we all aware that the archers was originally devised as a government propaganda tool.

We definitely were not!

 

[classic33]

Just out of interest, are we all aware that the archers was originally devised as a government propaganda tool.

If you mean giving advice to farmers after the second world war, yes.

 

[tyred]

Are they turning of the LW transmitter soon? I think I seen that somewhere recently.

 

[classic33]

Are they turning of the LW transmitter soon? I think I seen that somewhere recently.

They can't do that!
What about Sailing By and the shipping forecast at midnight 45?

 

[Gwylan]

They can't do that!
What about Sailing By and the shipping forecast at midnight 45?

Well if you believe that you'll be surprised to learn that the weather forecast is supposed to be broadcast at dictation speed too.
Not happened recently.

 

[sheddy]

Billy Connelly - Archers Theme for our new national anthem

Why are we still waiting ?

 

[Hover Fly]

They can't do that!
What about Sailing By and the shipping forecast at midnight 45?

They're on FM and DAB as well.
But what about Trident captains listening out for "Today" to know if nuclear Armageddon broke out while they were asleep?

 

[classic33]

They're on FM and DAB as well.
But what about Trident captains listening out for "Today" to know if nuclear Armageddon broke out while they were asleep?

No signal received, they may just think it has.

 

[Drago]

But what about Trident captains listening out for "Today" to know if nuclear Armageddon broke out while they were asleep?

If they listen to the Archers they may indeed believe the armageddon has arrived.

 

[Drago]

In the future submarine captains will be forced to watch eastenders. If a week should pass without Phil Mitchell flushing Ian Beale's head down the lavvy then civilisation has ended.

 

[matticus]

Just out of interest, are we all aware that the archers was originally devised as a government propaganda tool.

<finds an Archers thread via the Search tool ...>

Blimey. Just looked at the Sounds page for today's Ep. It's almost a full transcript:

Spoiler: Episode Summary

At Grey Gables Zainab is shadowing Oliver, who thinks it will be good for her to see the frustrating realities of his job. Zainab thanks Oliver for his support over her complaint about Lawrence and the golf club. Zainab gets on with one of Oliver’s more mundane tasks, before spotting on a personnel file he’s shared that his eightieth birthday is coming up. He’d rather forget all about it, but Zainab thinks Oliver should celebrate such a momentous event. Later, Zainab reports an error she’s spotted and how she corrected it. Oliver suggests she’d make a good manager, but Zainab is more interested in organising a party for Oliver’s birthday. Once again Oliver demurs.

Eddie, Clarrie and George arrive for lunch at The Bull, taking a table in the corner. Jolene assures them everything’s fine, but after some ill-advised comments by George the atmosphere becomes awkward. Clarrie apologises and Jolene reassures her there’ll be no trouble, so long as George doesn’t go looking for it. Fallon then tells Jolene she won’t hide and will be completely professional with them, before serving their meal. George makes a point of apologising for what happened to Fallon after the crash, while Fallon thanks him for helping Jolene and Kenton with Markie, then goes. Despite the awkwardness Clarrie and Eddie reassure George that it went well. But after they’ve gone Fallon confesses how hard it was seeing George again and Jolene reckons the Grundys are being optimistic if they think the village is ready to kiss and make up.