Blog posts by year and monthMarch 2011
Posts (11)
"Thank you David. That will be all" - Listener discussions from 17-23 March 2011
There was a collective sigh of relief after "last year's man" David Archer was replaced by "Super Roy" Tucker at Lower Loxley. And everyone's talking about Jamie Perks - particularly after he told his mum about Kenton Archer's new relationship with Jolene Perks. Plus is this year's Lent storyli...
"Every family needs a Jill" - Listener discussions from 14 - 16 March 2011
Elizabeth Pargetter's indecision about having an ICD [Implantable Cardio Defibrillator] fitted has had many shouting at the radio. There were congratulations for Eddie Grundy after his win at the races and tears and fears after Freddie and Lily Pargetter's cake-making session with grandma Jill -...
Advice from the heart
The recent storyline concerning Elizabeth's heart trouble - and its treatment with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - was developed with the help of Dr Sara Thorne, a specialist in congenital heart disease. This article from University Hospitals Birmingham gives the details. ...
Ambridge Extra on BBC Radio 4 Extra
People who follow me on Twitter @keridavies will be aware that I've been very busy recently but I haven't been able to say why. Now at last I can. I'm one of the two scriptwriters from The Archers team who have been working on a spin-off from the main programme. 'Ambridge Extra' will laun...
"Oh Elizabeth, your heart!" - Listener discussions from 10 - 13 March 2011
The main topic of conversation everywhere has been Elizabeth Pargetter and her dash to hospital on Friday night. Also under discussion are "revolting" Brian Aldridge, "toadying" Tony Archer and what to call Ed and Emma Grundy's baby... Here's my pick of listener discussions between 10th and ...
Johne's disease
As Alistair confirms Johne's disease in Brookfield's herd, large animal vet Keith Cutler explains why Ruth and David are so dismayed. Johne's disease is a chronic, insidious disease of cattle (and other species) for which there is no treatment and which is ultimately invariably fatal. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. Most affected animals are infected within the first weeks of life, generally through exposure to faeces from infected adults. But clinical signs of disease, including profuse diarrhoea and weight loss, are not usually seen until the animal reaches between three and six years of age. Before this, during the preclinical phase of the disease, fertility and milk yield will be compromised and there will be an increased susceptibility to a range of other diseases to which cattle can succumb. Owners of herds infected with Johne's disease have to cull more animals at a younger age, need to rear more heifers to replace them and are less profitable than herds which are free of the disease. Keith Cutler BSc BVSc DipECBHM MRCVS is a partner in Endell Veterinary Group in Salisbury Picture shows a dairy cow suffering from Johne's disease. The weight loss is especially apparent around the back legs and spine. Picture courtesy of Endell Veterinary Group.
Happy pancake day! Listener discussions from 7 to 9 March 2011
Is Lower Loxley in financial trouble? Why hasn't Elizabeth Pargetter seen this coming? What's wrong with the cows at Brookfield? Is it "ALL DEEEEVEEED'S FAULT"? Is Jolene Perks rushing things with Kenton Archer? Poor Eddie and Joe Grundy - will Clarrie's frugal Sunday lunches drive them to The B...
"Awwww Kenton and Jolene!" - Listener discussions from 28 Feb to 2 Mar 2011
Just as Kenton Archer was admitting his feelings for Jolene Perks, Twitter and the message board lit up with posts ranging from "At-a-boy, Kenton!" to "yuk yuk yuk". Fallon has been advised to "get your ear plugs ready". There have also been discussions about manipulative Helen Archer, feisty Li...
"You GO GIRL!" - Listener discussions from 24 to 27 Feb 2011
Friday's episode got everyone talking - as one poster put it, "That was more like it - Matt caught going behind Lil's back, Lil tearing him off a strip. Emma's jealousy. Radio [Susan Carter] and Emma speculating on David's letter about the inquest" (typewrite). There was also more despair on the...
What I learned about The Archers
Archers scriptwriter Simon Frith spent much of last year working through 60 years of Archers storylines while researching the book The Archers Archives, which was published to mark our 60th anniversary. We asked Simon what had surprised him about his travels in Ambridge's past. For many UK ba...
