Archives for June 2011

I wrote a few weeks about the Museum of English Rural Life's village fete and promised there'd be a related photo gallery soon. It's now up and you can see it here.

The museum is part of the University of Reading. Until 22 December 2011 it has an exhibition called Everyday Stories of Country Folk, which celebrates 60 years of The Archers and, coincidentally, of MERL itself.

There are also a couple of photos of Tim Bentinck (David Archer) in younger days - one very very young - that we've squeezed in rather tangentially - because they are so sweet and he said we could.

Keri Davies is an Archers scriptwriter and web producer.

• View the MERL photo gallery
• Details of the MERL Village Fete, including map and directions
• Read about the exhibition Everyday Stories of Country Folk
• Picture shows Tim Bentinck (David Archer) at the exhibition's opening

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Jennifer's book club choice, Mistress of the Paddocks, had many speculating about who the subjects of the book were. It soon became clear that they were none other than Brian Aldridge (aka Byron Ridgeway) and Mandy Beesborough (aka Miranda Birdsall).

There has been plenty of discussion about Carinthia Hart, the local author of this "rural roistering romance". Is she really who she says she is?

Whoever wrote it had inside information. If it's Caroline and Brian, not many people knew about this. Maybe it was pillow talk between Brian and Mandy Beesborough. Another issue for Jennifer. But all these affairs of Brian are nothing compared with the big one which she knows about (careen)

Here's a roundup of the suspects...

Jennifer Aldridge

Did Jennifer write in her ample spare time? I've heard of vanity publishing. But vanity book group? Didn't work too well, did it..... (The Vintners Driver)

Mandy Beesborough

I hope that Mandy Beesborough wrote it; all about a thinly disguised Brian and his antics; and Jennifer is not smart enough to have spotted the likeness to the home life of her own dear husband. (PhillisDoris)

Siobhan Hathaway

Posthumous opus by Siobhan? #thearchers (@psalotti on Twitter)

Jim Lloyd

IMHO Carinthia Hart is good old Prof. Jimus, using the gossip Shula told him to 'literary' advantage! Ever the lover of classical themes, Jim would have dredged up the fact that Carinthia was part of the Duchy of Carinthia in the Holy Roman Empire. (now part of Austria). Just a guess that he goes around the village humming 'Carinthia!' to the tune of 'Valencia' ... (The devil wears Burberry)

Betty Tucker

Beddy [Dead Betty] wrote it and Moike got it published posthumosly to raise a trust fund for Abbie or pay a share of the Brat Feebs trip to SA and at the same time rub the noses of the Aldridges in the manner of their smugness. Brian had a crack at Beddy did he not? (Lee Shore)

#thearchers - book could have been written by Betty Tucker & she's taken the secret to the grave (@ jackieschneider on Twitter)

Vicky Tucker

Well how about Vicky then? Mike would have no compunction in telling her about Brian's little affairs. I don't doubt the author exaggerated some of the stuff and added lots ... (JustPresidentBunnikins_Socialist)

Sam Batton

Sam Batton writing under a nom de plume and recalling his days in Ambridge with his platemeter planning the paddock grazing system for the cows with Ruth!! (MoorlandMinx)

Robert Snell

So many to choose from for the subjects of the book, but how about Robert as the author? 25 years in Ambridge, in and out of people's homes as a handyman, not so much being made of the Snell's financial problems. Lyndiepops probably has a secret stash of Mills and Boon and the like that Robert raids for inspiration! (Blue Moon)

Lynda Snell

yes! yes! who is corinthia hart!? who? i bet Lynda Snell! #thearchers (@JoeyRoey on Twitter)

I'd thought Sniffy Snell would fill the bill beautifully. Not Robert, tho, not enough imagination. 'Lindybots' ? I've definitely settled my bets on Lynda as author, particularly after just hearing that she ducked out of attending the Book Club.

(Archers_Roadie)

Caroline

The author is said to be "Carinthia Hart" = Caroline Bone???? (silviar59)

I wondered about that, but when would Caroline have time to write a book?

(Flameofthewest)

Christine Barford

Has anyone else noticed that "Carinthia Hart" is an almost perfect anagram of "Christine Archer"? And that Christine, who has been a silent character for a very long time, was mentioned in the book club episode? (kugel)

Auntie Chris is still around, she doesn't seem to do much, but she is not stupid and sees what she sees. So writing a thinly veiled "novel" about the goings on in Ambridge would seem a pretty obvious thing to do. (bob larkin)

John Tregorragn

How long ago did John Tregorran leave Ambridge? he's the only local writer I can think of, apart from Jenny herself, but it doesn't sound much like a male author (though I believe some do write for Mills and Boon under female pseudonyms) (Dippergirl)

Catch up on the discussion on the message board.

Tayler Cresswell is host of The Archers message board.

• Read the story of Brian and Mandy
• Discover more characters in The Archers Who's Who
• Join the conversation on the message board
• Or chat about #thearchers or #AmbridgeExtra on Twitter or Facebook
• Picture shows Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge)

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So Jennifer's book club choice - Mistress of the Paddocks, by Borsetshire author Carinthia Hart - turned out to be a thinly disguised version of a supposed relationship between Jennifer's husband Brian and flame-haired Pony Club doyenne Mandy Beesborough.

But what actually happened between Brian and Mandy, or 'local landowner Byron Ridgeway' and 'avid horsewoman Miranda Birdsall', as the roman a clef portrayed them?

What little we know can be found in this storyline.

Keri Davies is an Archers (and Ambridge Extra) scriptwriter and web producer.

• Read the story of Brian and Mandy
• Discover more past storylines with The Archers Timeline
• Discuss The Archers on our message board
• Follow The Archers on Facebook or Twitter
• Picture shows Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge)

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I talk about Ambridge Extra and the Ambridge village website, in the latest podcast from the BBC College of Production.

The discussion looks at ways of extending characters into different areas, such as fictional websites or parallel narratives. The other contributors are:

• Jon Aird, who produced the website for the BBC TV series Psychoville. This spawned several apparently real sites based on the series' bizarre characters and their macabre interests.
• Derren Lawford, who was executive producer of BBC Three's Jail Tales, a mix of multiplatform content about what it's like to be young and in prison.

I took part on the phone from my office at home. Fortunately they edited out the bit where someone rang the front doorbell and I had to let them in...

If you're interested in the craft of programme making, I can recommend the College of Production's website, which is open to all - both inside and outside the BBC.

Keri Davies is an Archers and Ambridge Extra scriptwriter and web producer.

• Psychoville



• Jail Tales

Some College of Production podcasts you might find interesting:

• Andrew Partington on the role of the studio manager in The Archers and other radio drama
• Andy again, on on creating sound effects
• Former Archers producer Peter Leslie Wild on radio drama directing
• BBC Radio 4 announcer (and Archers fan) Chris Aldridge on radio announcing

Picture shows one of Psychoville's fictional websites, by serial killer enthusiast David Sowerbutts

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They've been talking about Oliver's strop, Jill's loneliness, Emma's whinge and Ruth's birthday card - but the biggest topic of conversation is still Kate and Phoebe. Over in Ambridge Extra there was a collective "ahhh" for Blowers, Jamie's teddy bear.

Here's my pick of listener discussions on The Archers message board, Twitter and Facebook between 5-7 June.

Jill's trip to St Stephens with Shula on Sunday touched many listeners

Quite unexpectedly this morning I found myself very moved by Jill and her request for Shula to be at church with her ... you'd think she'd be at church now in her old age surrounded by family... But she isn't. She's there ... quite alone like so very many in the C of E pews of today.... I think TA got this just right and the scene gave me total recall - not only of mine and my siblings' selfishness, but also, of the rightness and inevitability of this too, and the sadness of life, and the loneliness that waits everyone one way or another, however busy, however blessed. (Rose Sal Volatile Parade)

Read more: Jill, all alone at St Stephen's

Jill's chat with Alan cheered some

[Jill] isn't a fool, after all, and it has been obvious for at least forty years that the centre of Elizabeth's world was, is and most likely ever will be Elizabeth. Jill loves Elizabeth, but not with blinkers on! (Chris Ghoti)

Read more in the Hooray! Jill has noticed thread

Roy's chat with Phoebe had a mixed reception. Phoebe was either blackmailing Roy, or putting forward a sensible case. Most felt that the conversation was a "complete parental chat fail". Does Brian know he's about to be asked to bankroll the trip? This story has elicited hundreds of posts on the message board and the conversation shows no sign of abating.

Oh, Phoebe! You're so much your mother's daughter. Noli and Sipho are your family too (true) and it was sooooooooo hard saying goodbye. (typewrite)

Reminded me of Earl Spencer's "Your blood family" speech.... Roy - you wimp. Godsake! (Doctor Darling)

IMO, Feebs should be allowed to go to SA for a few months, but not for a whole year. She is too young to make a sensible decision for herself at 12. The time has come for Roy to do what he does best: draw up a rota (relapsedpastrychef)

I wouldn't mind betting, though, that when Ruairi reaches his majority and starts to take on some solid family responsibilities (in his capacity as "My Son") he may very well put his foot down about Kate putting both hands in the Aldridge cookie jar... (annieoakley)

Emotional blackmail? Have your say on the message board

Sunday's puppy show had some expressing surprise at Oliver's outburst, and concern for Molly Button's safety...

Concerned Molly Button will come to a sticky end #EvilLily (@Dukeleto77 on Twitter)

The Puppy Show is important for Oliver, as Master of the S. Borsetshire Hunt. Caroline knows this, and should have been there to support him instead of making excuses. I'm with Oliver on this. Caroline is gentry and should have known better. These things do matter within the hunting fraternity. (JudithL)

She's got a business to run and he's just running a puppy show for what sound like objectionable characters who like stuffing their faces on a free tea. (borchesterbouncer)

Read more on the A nasty Oliver! thread

Emma's desire for a bigger house has polarised opinion - is she just being selfish?

Does she ever stop moaning...she was actually a good match with william - both a couple of mean spirited whingers imo... (the_shellgrottolady)

Emma is a downmarket version of Kate. Same sense of entitlement but without the rich Daddy. (Doodlysquat)

Shouldn't Grundys and Carters have aspirations? ... I heart Emma. I know she's a whinge with a badly-behaved past. I like that about her. (Tadpole)

Does Emma deserve a bigger house? Have your say on the message board

Listeners have been penning verses for Ruth's birthday card - from Elizabeth

There was a young lady from Prideaux

Whose husband has made me a widow

May her cows get TB

and her sheep the scrape

Whilst I sob into Nigel's old pillow. (Forgotten-Tractor)

May your birthday be filled with laughter,

Merriment, song and dance.

But I hope you drop dead the day after,

'Cause you stole my inheritance. (rubylou)

Add your birthday wishes for Ruth

Over in Ambridge Extra, most listeners are surprised by Alice's behaviour - they think she's leading Chaz on. Many were pleased that Jamie finally told Steve to get lost....

When's the current ambridge extra season finishing I'm really buying into it I want to push chaz down stairs(@tomwilliams1990 on Twitter)

Chaz is starting to make me laugh now, he's a useless debt collector and a hopelessly inept felon. (wildforces)

He is hopeless isn't he, but what IS Alice doing inviting him in to her bed? Silly girl. Jamie is beginning to grow up and I love him for having a Blowers bear! (ermintrude)

Have to say, I really enjoyed Jamie getting angry with Steve today, when he dared to make fun of the "Blowers" bear that his dad had bought him a few years ago. (PaulHammond26)

Discuss Ambridge Extra on the message board

Tayler Cresswell is host of The Archers message board.

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BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James has taken a fancy to Ambridge Extra. Here he is talking on his show about the programme. He rightly observed that the language the teenage characters use is, of necessity, not as fruity as it would be in reality:

Ambridge Extra scriptwriter Tim Stimson recognises the challenge:

'Oh fiddle sticks!' 'Golly gosh!' 'Flipping heck!' As a writer of The Archers and Ambridge Extra, these are all phrases I try very hard to avoid. Swearing is incredibly rare in Ambridge or Borchester, or even at Southampton Uni - at least in those bits we hear on air.

However, as Greg James noticed, not swearing in Ambridge Extra has been particularly tricky. With most of our characters you can normally get away with it, but the absence of profanity in our teenage dialogue is particularly noticeable. Not only that, but the adrenaline-filled scenarios in which we frequently find Jamie embroiled tend to lend themselves to an even greater outpouring of expletives.

The best solution is to simply try to avoid it. Thanks to the listeners of Radio 1, but we probably won't be using many of their suggested faux swear words. Clean replacements very rarely work. Far better to try to get the force of an invective over in the meat of the dialogue itself. Humour can also help. It's hard to believe that in reality Jazzer's speech wouldn't be peppered with profanities. Somehow though, because Jazzer is so creative with his put-downs one tends not to notice.



Of course this is all easier said than done and sometime you can't help resorting to the odd 'blimey'. It's also hard to know what words people still regard as unacceptable. Language moves on and some words that would never cross the lips of our older characters seem quite natural and inoffensive spoken by the younger ones. Nevertheless we try our utmost to keep Ambridge safe for those with more sensitive ears.

And it also seems that I've managed to get through this entire blog post about swearing without swearing. Thank flip for that.

Do we get it more or less right? Would you like to hear a little more swearing on The Archer and Ambridge Extra? Or do you feel we are still overstepping the mark? Let us know - but keep it clean.



Keri Davies is an Archers (and Ambridge Extra) scriptwriter and web producer.

• Greg James talks about Ambridge Extra
• Listen to Greg James' show on BBC Radio 1
• Picture shows Greg James

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Our spin-off series Ambridge Extra is approaching a climax or two:

• Chris Carter has got financially involved with Alice's housemate Chaz, but unbeknown to them Chaz's loan sharking is getting badly out of hand
• Jamie's being torn between his sensible girlfirend Natalie and his wilder friends Steve and Marty
• And on a lighter note, Rhys and Kirsty have an extravgant plan to get back into Fallon's good books

You can see some of the Ambridge Extra actors in studio and on location, in a new photo gallery.

If you haven't yet sampled this alternative take on Ambridge life, there's still time.

You can jump right in on BBC Radio 4 Extra:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am, with repeats on the same days at 2.15pm (straight after The Archers on Radio 4)
• An omnibus half hour programme is on Fridays at 10.30am, repeated on Sundays at 11.15am and 7.15pm (again, straight after The Archers Omnibus and evening episode)

Or if you want to get the full story, all 26 episodes of this first series will be available online until 7 July - seven days after the final episode.

Keri Davies is an Archers (and Ambridge Extra) scriptwriter and web producer.

• View the Ambridge Extra photo gallery
• Listen to the latest episode
• Or catch up from the beginning
• Download Ambridge Extra direct to your computer
• Read Ambridge Extra synopses written by listeners
• Picture shows Harry Arkwright (Charles 'Chaz' Forster)

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As people in Ambridge fondly remember Sid Perks (except, perhaps, for Adam and Ian), we thought you might like to refresh your memory of this Ambridge stalwart.

Here's his life story, from his days as a young tearaway to late-flowering romantic.

Keri Davies is an Archers (and Ambridge Extra) scriptwriter and web producer.

• Read Sid Perks' life story
• Discover past events and stories in our Timeline
• Picture shows Buffy Davis (Jolene) and Alan Devereux (Sid Perks)

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The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is holding a 'village fete' this Saturday, 4 June - with a big Archers connection.

Part of the University of Reading, the museum currently has an exhibition called Everyday Stories of Country Folk, which celebrates 60 years of The Archers and, coincidentally of MERL itself. The exhibition runs until 22 December 2011 and we'll have a photo gallery of it soon.

Saturday's event aims to conjure up much of the atmosphere of a traditional village fete, with many activities that have featured in Ambridge fetes in the past. Tombola, blacksmithing demonstrations, morris dancers, rare breeds... and the obligatory cake stall and beer tent, of course.

But there's a real-life crossover with The Archers too. Trevor Harrison (Eddie Grundy). will officially open the fete at 11am. Then later there'll be a question and answer session with Trevor, Archers editor Vanessa Whitburn and exhibition curator Mark Mason.

Mark Mason will also be leading special tours of the exhibition.

Admission is free. Sadly I'm at a music festival this weekend, or I'd definitely be there trying to splat the rat.

Keri Davies is an Archers scriptwriter and web producer.

• Details of the MERL Village Fete, including map and directions
• Read about the exhibition Everyday Stories of Country Folk
• Picture shows Trevor Harrison (Eddie Grundy)

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Everything was eclipsed by Thursday's picnic at Lower Loxley. Some omnibus listeners broke with tradition and listened in during the week - and many shared their coping strategies...

In a hyperactive frenzy having listened to 20 Jerry Lee Lewis tracks in a row- an attempt to recover from that episode of the #thearchers (@AdamSwayne on Twitter)

OK will open wine when The Archers starts. Might need it... @BBCRadio4 #thearchers #archers (@CaroleAnnRice on Twitter)

Here's my pick of listener discussions on The Archers message board, Twitter and Facebook between 18-20 May

On Thursday evening, Twitter and the message board lit up. "David, David, David" ... he's selfish; stupid! And Elizabeth Pargetter so "foul". Should David Archer leave it a week or so before sending the invoice over for the aerator hire? And will his daughter Pip have to rethink her summer job?

Oh my god. Most dramatic episode of #thearchers EVER. Elizabeth was well harsh!!!! (@GoodEggFoodie on Twitter)

#thearchers Just heard last night's episode. Gordon Bennett - David's torn it! Surely the dumbest thing he has EVER done. No reason for it. (@MishaGlenny on Twitter)

Much better than using the inquest to confess. It was a great surprise - I thought everything was back under the carpet and back to normal! I take back all I have said in the past! (Abby33)

That was a stonking performance from Alison Dowling. Started out piano and ended up fortissimo. Brava! Tim Bentinck was pretty good too. Nice sob at the end. (JustJanie - Fairweather Jogger)

She has the perfect voice for outraged indignant angry honest fury. I still giggled at the image of David cowering as if struck by a hurricane. (foxyboosh)

David, David, David ... What have you done?! You might end up with Lilly and Freddie after all. (Helen Nutter on Facebook)

All that after he'd done the grass too! #thearchers (@martin_hilton on Twitter)

Deeply satisfying. Roll on the hundred year war. (Stuart Pearce Badger)

Some were surprised to hear Elizabeth drive away from the picnic - did she think driving on private land didn't count? (Irene)

Read more on the message board: That was worth waiting for!

On Friday, it felt as if the audience was listening from behind the sofa...

Here we go. Brace yourselves #thearchers (@nixCab on Twitter)

Let the Fall of the House of Archer commence. (belledemidi)

Ruth's "hysterical" outburst caused a lot of debate - was it justified? And whilst a handful thought it was "overegged", most thought it was painfully realistic. David was almost universally seen as "remarkably selfish"

David's ruddy buttoned-up clenched-teeth self-regarding bull-headed martyrdom would make me want to push him downstairs. (Tadpole)

Ruth if I were you I'd just push David off the nearest high building or throw him in with the milk #thearchers (@sheilmcn on Twitter)

Ruth's desperation and panic was real and human and flawed. Lizard's was stage managed and melodramatic. Real pain is inarticulate. Ruth could see her whole life going down the tubes. Lizard has already faced that. (Babushka Lovski)

Going for a little lie down in a quiet room now. Bye. #Thearchers (@psalotti on Twitter)



Are you with or against Ruth? Have your say in the Blimey, Ruth is hysterical! thread.

The discussion about Peggy Woolley's relationship with Ted has been revived - is it appropriate? The majority of posters are pleased that Peggy's found a new interest and that she deserves a friendship outside of her caring duties.

Alzheimers has been described as the carer's disease and Peggy will be suffering (I, too, have close experience of this). Any opportunity for her to develop friendships and spend time with people other than Jack should be celebrated. (soobeehere)

I was watched elderly men and women dedicate their remaining days to the care of a a senile partner. Often they grow frailer and their health goes under the exhaustion and pressure. Is that what Peggy has to be doomed to? Because if so, her 'remaining days' might well be fewer than Jack's. (pollyanna)

What do YOU think? - tell us on the message board.

Over in Ambridge Extra, the focus of the conversation is still on Alice's flatmate, Chaz. There's also been some discussion of what series two might hold - could Ambridge Extra take a peek inside the Madikane household?

Have to say listening to Chas get what was coming to him this morning was the highlight of my train ride. Only problem was thinking that he would eventually take it out on Chris and Alice. (LogopolisMike)

I'm liking the idea of Jo'burg and the Madikane household family skeletons falling out of cupboards. (Sam)

The storylines are dark enough already, without the social problems of S. Africa possibly being thrown in as well. (Lakey Hill)

You can read Ambridge Extra synopses on the message board (with big thanks to the posters providing them!)

Tayler Cresswell is host of The Archers message board.

• Join the conversation on the message board
• Or chat about #thearchers or #AmbridgeExtra on Twitter or Facebook

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