The Archers

BBC Radio 4

4,4 (102)
Drama
Täglich

Contemporary drama in a rural setting.

vor 5 Std.

31/05/2026

Tensions mount for Rex, and Martyn Gibson attempts to get to the bottom of recent events.

13 Min.
vor 2 Tagen

29/05/2026

24th May – 29th May 2026 Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Bunch Editor: Jeremy Howe Brian Aldridge … Charles Collingwood Natasha Archer … Mali Harries  Tom Archer … William Troughton  Lilian Bellamy … Sunny Ormonde Alice Carter … Hollie Chapman  Susan Carter … Charlotte Martin Ian Craig …  Stephen Kennedy  Alan Franks … John Telfer Brad Horrobin … Taylor Uttley Tracy Horrobin … Susie Riddell  Adam Macy … Andrew Wincott Kate Madikane ... Perdita Avery Zainab Malik ... Priyasasha Kumari Kirsty Miller …. Annabelle Dowler  Lynda Snell ... Carole Boyd Carol Tregorran … Mia Soteriou Anna Tregorran … Isobel Middleton Midwife … Tian Chaudhry

13 Min.
vor 3 Tagen

28/05/2026

At Kirsty’s first appointment, the midwife advises that based on her previous history and being an older mum, her care will be consultant led. Anything that’s not right should be picked up early. Upset, Kirsty just wants to know that this time the pregnancy will go well. Back at Willow Farm she decides to excitedly confide in Kate that she’s 10 weeks pregnant with Erik’s baby. She wishes she was at 40 weeks already. Although Kate offers cautious optimism, Kirsty repeats her worry – why did her last pregnancy go wrong and what can she do to stop this happening again? Natasha spots some of Tony’s unused tools in the packing shed and wonders if she could sell them online and split the proceeds. She’s stopped in her tracks by the pre-school group chat – Loxley Barrett has received a negative OFSTED report. Tom advises her not to panic – after all Martha, Rosie, Xander and Jack are all doing well there. Natasha feels Nova would be fine anywhere, but Seren lacks confidence and they can’t afford for her to be overlooked in a stretched school. On calling the school, Natasha’s appalled to hear that the head is on long – term sick leave and the deputy did not defend the report. They need to start researching other options, even if they have to travel. She brings up the question of private schools – but how would they afford that, especially for twins? Tom suggests taking one step at a time – and to avoid telling Pat, who has strong opinions on private education.

13 Min.
vor 4 Tagen

27/05/2026

Having grudgingly acknowledged that her handrails are useful, Carol accepts an invitation to join Anna in The Bull for a meal. As Anna orders, she shares with Tracy how much she’s feeling the pressure of caring for her mum from a distance. Tracy empathises with Anna - although Bert is currently staying with Clive, she does feel that normally the burden of caring for him is all on her. Anna finds it a relief talking to someone in the same boat. When you feel that you’re going to burn out, you need support. Outside, Carol confides in Lynda about the strain that caring puts on her relationship with Anna. To Carol it feels that Anna is determined to make her a burden, and she really doesn’t want the fuss. When Brian arrives, Lilian gives him an earful about breaking up the partnership. She reminds him that his Golden Wedding anniversary would have been soon – Jenny would have been devastated by the family upset. Brian responds that Adam started the fire and Debbie threw petrol on it. Although he knows he’s not innocent of all wrongdoing, Brian insists this reality has to be accepted. Later, Alice asks Brian if he’s perhaps overreacted, but he feels it’s fair for a betrayal such as this. Alice suggests the decision to withdraw the land is wildly illogical and feels like a punishment. But for Brian, it’s a bid for freedom. He proposes that the family get on with the rest of their lives - and let him get on with his.

13 Min.
vor 5 Tagen

26/05/2026

Catching up with Kate, Alice confirms that Debbie and Adam went off script at the partnership meeting, derailing the plan to get Brian to step back. It’s a disaster for Kate, who relies on her partnership income. Kate hopes Brian could still change his mind where Alice, her and Ruairi are concerned. When Adam arrives, his sisters accuse him of being selfish and duplicitous. Adam blames Debbie for the failure of the plan, before revealing Brian promised him the land but wouldn’t let Adam tell anyone. Then, when Brian suddenly withdrew the offer, Adam couldn’t help thinking he’d lost his mind. They’re interrupted by Ian calling to offer Kate work at Grey Gables. Later, Ian approaches Alice to give his backing to Adam. He confides that Adam was devastated by Brian disowning him and fears losing his siblings as well as his father. Could Alice talk to Brian and see if she can fix it? At Bridge Farm, Susan voices her concerns about Bert and admonishes Tracy for letting him move out. Tracy argues that Bert is a grown man with capacity. Susan is dubious about his ability to make good choices, though. That’s why she stepped in and gave him a health plan. Susan later apologises, Tracy was right, she just made things harder by interfering. Susan’s just visited Bert at Clive’s and was impressed by how Clive’s looking after him. She still doesn’t trust Clive but urges Tracy to enjoy the break for now – she’s earned it.

13 Min.
vor 6 Tagen

25/05/2026

Anna’s frustrated with Carol as they’re meant to be ready to have grab rails fitted tomorrow, but there’s clutter and chaos everywhere, which Carol resists clearing up. Anna reminds her the Care Assessor’s coming on Thursday, to see how Carol’s managing and whether she’s eligible for extra support. Anna wants Carol to be honest with them, or there’s no point. Alan then arrives for a fundraising meeting, as Carol’s offered to help raise money for the damaged church bell with a scavenger hunt. Carol remarks that Alan reminds her of her late son Richard. Anna can’t see the likeness though before Carol suggests they never agree on anything. Adam visits harassed Ian at Grey Gables, fuming that Brian has tipped him over the edge, after announcing that Adam’s been eliminated from all decision making at Home Farm. Adam reckons that Brian will run the business into the ground. Kate and Alice still aren’t speaking to Adam, and he blames Debbie for the way the meeting went on Friday – what claim does she have on the land when she isn’t even there to farm it? Wondering how Kate will manage for money without the Partnership, Ian suggests offering her work at Grey Gables, doing housekeeping plus the occasional yoga class. Adam decides he’s going back to work, to prove he’s the one who should be steering the proverbial ship. He can’t just ditch his job, hoping Brian might still see sense. But he needs to win Alice and Kate over to his side, Ian reckons, by telling them all about Brian’s duplicity.

13 Min.
24. Mai

24/05/2026

The Battling Bulls are playing The Trout, who are two players down. Brad suggests loaning them a player and Tom agrees, so the match can go ahead - but not Zainab, who’s too good. Brad offers himself, really enjoys playing and ends up on the winning side: The Trout. Lynda’s come to appreciate the lightness of pub cricket. She’s looking forward to the Women’s T20 World Cup. Surprised that Clive actually turned up, Brad and Tracy discuss Bert’s departure with him, hoping that Bert will be alright. Returning from Scotland, Kate finds Brian embarked on a new project: re-reading all his Dick Francis novels. Brian accuses her of stabbing him in the back, but Kate assures him their only plan at the partnership meeting was to try and reduce his stress levels. She hadn’t known about Adam and Debbie’s intentions. Kate then asks how Spiritual Home will be affected by the Partnership ending. Although he says it’s safe, Brian reminds her that if it wasn’t for Spiritual Home, they’d still have the farmhouse. Offended, Kate refuses to take responsibility for the house being sold, insisting that was down to Brian poisoning the Am. Later, Kate accuses Brian of bullying, before he finally apologises. Kate tells Brian that his children’s actions come from a place of love and care for him. Brian though can’t understand why they’ve stopped trusting him. Because he’s been behaving weirdly, Kate says, especially the way he’s mistreated Miranda. Brian retorts that everyone makes mistakes. It doesn’t mean he’s losing the plot, just that he’s human.

13 Min.
22. Mai

22/05/2026

Just as the partnership meeting begins, Debbie walks in, to everyone’s amazement. Delighted Brian claims he hasn’t lost his touch, highlighting the farm’s financial resilience. Adam begs to differ: he’s been running things and any recent increase in profits is down to him. Uncomfortable Alice supports Adam, but Brian claims it’s been under his supervision, with Ruairi’s help. Adam reckons Ruairi’s been a liability, then outlines his vision. He proposes being left to run the farm his own way, but also suggests Brian leaves the land to him. Debbie has another suggestion: leave the land to her and Adam. Heatedly, they argue that otherwise, when Brian dies, it will be chaos. Alice isn’t on board with this – all she wants is to persuade Brian to retire properly and relax. Horrified, Brian then hears their concerns about his stress levels and mental health. Brian retorts that his recent stresses have nothing to do with his mental health, but won’t admit any more. Adam pushes for a decision on leaving the land to him and Debbie, but Brian points out they’re not even his own children. Alice is shocked, but Brian reasons that Adam doesn’t have the skills to run a business and Debbie has no right, having been away so long. Debbie’s furious, angrily listing Brian’s failings. She declares she’s done, she can’t fight Brian anymore. She doesn’t want the partnership, the land, or a relationship with him. Brian retaliates: he’ll withdraw the land from the partnership altogether. There will be no business with them anymore. He’ll go it alone.

13 Min.

Alle anzeigen (133)

Emma Vallency Freud

Moderation

4,4

von 5

102 Bewertungen

Essential drama, gritty and suspenseful

20.11.2023

krak_berkeley

Forget “the Wire” or “the Sopranos”, “the Archers” is the peak of suspenseful drama and complex, powerful storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat. The Archers is essential listening for me, an expat who grew up in the English countryside, to feel back home for 10 minutes a day (except Saturday… which really is the only downside to the show). Sure there might be no nice characters, but even the worst of them (Brian, I’m looking at *you*) have their redeeming moments where you laugh or cry along with them, and there’s always a cliffhanger to keep you tuning in the next day. Bravo, BBC, and long may Ambridge thrive.
No nice characters at all?

24.01.2023

McStern

Hi I love the Archers and have been listening for nearly 30 years on and off. However, as my (long suffering) wife pointed out: there are no nice people in A bridge. And she is right. There is not one that is really likeable. Is this a European view? Or would the English agree? One wonders...
Eternal....hopefully.

27.07.2020

wewewehh

I just love every bit of it. Connects me to the UK while living on the continent on a daily bases. Please do never quit the BBC from Europe!
Maintaining a solid link to home.

16.03.2020

Paul Law 1

Having left the UK for Europe, 20 years ago, listening daily to the Archers, maintains my link to home, and reminds me of the many good things l left behind. For all of my adult life, the Archers, have always been there, and l hope will always be.