“Here\u2019s to the next 20,000 episodes.\u201d <\/p>
The Archers is the world\u2019s longest running daily radio drama serial, having been on the air since the \u201950s and today, is set to hit a major milestone.<\/p>\n
This evening\u2019s (Friday 9th June 2023) episode, which will be broadcast at 7pm on BBC Radio 4, will be the programme\u2019s<\/a> 20,000th episode, and it seems as though it\u2019s only the beginning for the long-running drama.<\/p>\n Speaking about the milestone, The Archers editor Jeremy <\/span>Howe said: \u201cWhen we despatched the scripts for the 20,000th episode of The Archers I wrote a note to the cast saying this milestone is both exhilarating and humbling.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that time, we have lived whole lifespans with our characters, seen births and deaths, marriages and break-ups, farms prosper and farms go to the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is like life with its sorrows and happiness, but unlike life, the 20,000th episode of the Archers is just the beginning. Here\u2019s to the next 20,000 episodes.\u201d<\/p> The show was created by Godfrey Baseley and is set in the fictional county of Borsetshire, where the titular Archer family<\/a> work on their farm and the drama giving us a window into the daily life of Britain\u2019s favourite village.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say that The Archers continues to enthral audiences as much today as it did when it was first heard back in 1951.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Over the years, the drama has tackled multiple thought-provoking storylines, so there\u2019s no guessing what could be in store for listeners in the future. It\u2019s become known for its authenticity and knack for delving into the gritty side of things, with some of The Archers\u2019 most talked-about moments including Helen Archer and Rob Titchener\u2019s domestic abuse storyline.<\/p>\n The plot ran between 2013 and 2016 and culminated in Helen stabbing Rob and giving birth to their son Jack while on remand in prison. The story led to the \u2018Solidari-tea\u2019 campaign and made national news headlines but of course, Rob\u2019s return just this past April is still a pressing storyline today.<\/p>\n Other notable storylines include Jim Lloyd\u2019s historic sexual abuse and his recovery in 2019, as well as the modern day slavery plot which featured Philip Moss and his son, Gavin, from 2019 through to 2021. Lest we forget the more recent \u201coff-screen\u201d death of Jennifer Aldridge (played by Angela Piper)<\/a> that left many fans devastated by the development.<\/p>\n While the series has historically been dedicated to reflect the realities of agricultural matters, more recently The Archers still employs a Farming and Countryside Advisor (Sybil Ruscoe) to ensure that the farming community and its concerns, both locally and nationally, remain at the heart of the show, with many of the storylines continuing to reflect this.<\/p>\n Of course, the show has also been home to a famous voice or two with the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Queen Camilla having appeared, as well as more recently, Rylan Clark to mark Eurovision 2023.<\/p>\n