Ben-Hur

Alan Yentob learns what links Radio 4 soap The Archers with Ben-Hur, one of the most epic Hollywood blockbusters of all time, as he charts the progress of 350 "everyday folk" as they benefit from an unusual bequest.

Margot Boyd, the actress who played Ambridge's Mrs Antrobus, wanted ordinary people to experience the joy and excitement of being involved in theatre. They took up the challenge, and spent a year preparing to perform Ben-Hur on stage in Bath's historic Theatre Royal.