 The Archers has been running for more than 50 years |
Rural radio soap The Archers has featured its first homosexual kiss in its 53-year history. The BBC Radio 4 drama saw character Adam, who had already revealed he was gay, go on a date with Irishman Ian before the pair kissed in a field.
The soap has a reputation as a gentle series, but racier storylines have included adultery and armed robbery.
The two actors involved in the kiss reportedly did not want to rely on sound effects so staged a real kiss.
The Archers is one of the last long-running soaps to include a gay kiss.
It follows closely behind Coronation Street which showed two of its male characters kissing for the first time in November 2003.
The former TV watchdog the Independent Television Commission received a total of 21 complaints deeming it unsuitable for family viewing but these were rejected.
EastEnders had its first gay characters back in 1986, partners Barry and Colin.
The Archers has a large loyal listenership for its nightly instalments.
The storylines centred around the village of Ambridge often reflect issues facing rural society, including topics such as GM crops.
In 2001 it included a discussion about the foot-and-mouth disease and its potential impact on the fictional village at the time when farmers around the country were facing the crisis.
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