Topical insert - Not that Kate, not that William
|19:16 PM, Wednesday, 17 November 2010
With the whole country apparently reacting to the announcement yesterday that Kate Middleton and Prince William are to be married, it turns out that the folk of Ambridge are doing the same.
The episode on Wednesday evening (17 November) featured a conversation between Helen Archer and her grandmother Peggy Woolley. With her new-found computer skills, Peggy had been watching the interview with the happy couple online.
The scene was an adaptation of an existing one, which was rewritten and re-recorded on the day of transmission.
This isn't the first time that Prince William has featured in an Archers 'topical insert'. On the day of his birth, the Grundys were lined up with three versions of that evening's episode: 'it's a boy', 'it's a girl', and 'not yet'. Sadly he paid no heed to our transmission times and so it was the third version that went out on air.
Archers editor Vanessa Whitburn said: 'It's such lovely news that we are sure fans will like to hear it on the programme. And when the world is talking about something, Ambridge tries to as well.'
In reaction to sadder, and later, news the scene was further rewritten before recording, to mention the terrible flooding in Cornwall.
Keri Davies is an Archers scriptwriter and web producer.
- The royal engagement in BBC News
- Cornwall floods from BBC News
- The picture shows Kate Middleton and Prince William announcing their engagement. Picture gallery.
Comment number 1.
At 08:57 18th Nov 2010, Nemo399 wrote:Thank you for the topical insert, Vanessa, and thank you, Keri Davies and others for designing this lovely new web-site with all its excellent innovations!
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Comment number 2.
At 17:02 18th Nov 2010, Keri Davies wrote:Thank you for you kind comments!
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Comment number 3.
At 22:16 19th Nov 2010, janet wrote:glad to hear this included but what has happened to the full synopsis it is not available any more
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Comment number 4.
At 14:17 20th Nov 2010, pennygee wrote:the Archers also adapted a programme when Diana Princess of Wales died. From memory I think Jill met someone in the church as she was saying a prayer - no other soap on TV does that.
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Comment number 5.
At 17:36 20th Nov 2010, Nemo399 wrote:Yes, I remember Jill praying in church 'for those who mourn' at the time of the death of the Diana, and, although Diana's name wasn't mentioned, the reference was clear and subtly done.
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Comment number 6.
At 11:01 21st Nov 2010, morelizzieplease wrote:Whilst I am happy that events are alluded to reading of the headlines from The Daily Mail is not necessary. We appreciate that TA is not (as my childer would say) "true life". Is it necessary to share in the joy/sorrow of the nation ? Mass hysteria never attractive.
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Comment number 7.
At 14:17 21st Nov 2010, PaulHammond wrote:"no other soap on TV does that."
I'm not sure that's entirely true! I'm sure I've seen topical inserts on EastEnders before - usually something like Minty and Gary discussing England being knocked out of the world cup that week, or a mention of the result of a general election.
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Comment number 8.
At 16:07 22nd Nov 2010, Keri Davies wrote:> glad to hear this included but what has happened to the full synopsis it is not available any more
I'm pleased to say that it is - both via our homepage and our catch-up page. And we have an archive of synopses going back to 2007 as well.
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