#123 The Archers Live at 75 + What Would You Cut at the BBC?

JUN 25, 202636 MIN
The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

#123 The Archers Live at 75 + What Would You Cut at the BBC?

JUN 25, 202636 MIN

Description

On 1 January 1951, the BBC broadcast "a farming Dick Barton", aka "an everyday story of country folk", aka The Archers - the world's longest running broadcast drama. Approximately 21,000 episodes later, it celebrates its diamond anniversary with a national tour of theatres, hosted by comedian and Archers fan Angela Barnes - who joins us this episode to tell us all about the show, and the show. The live tribute features Archers cast members, a Q&A, an Ambridge-style pub quiz, and of course its iconic theme. It plays from Liverpool to London, Glasgow to Swansea. Enjoy! Also this episode, less gladly, we consider the upcoming BBC cuts - and while we may not welcome news that Radio 4's The World Tonight or Midnight News are to go (and that's just the start), what would you cut, if you were DG? I asked online, I wrote a Substack about it, and this episode we look at a few of the more frequent suggestions, from some of you. If you have further thoughts, do email the show and we might feature you next time. We're also featuring your kind reviews of this podcast, if you've posted to Apple Podcasts. Thanks if so! If you haven't and would consider such a thing, please do and next time you-yes-you could be the proud winner of a fictitious piece of British broadcasting history...     SHOWNOTES: The Archers Live at 75, on tour around the UK. More next time... https://www.fane.co.uk/the-archers Listen to the earliest Archers there is: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03nshmg Paul's show is An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: The BBC Then and Now - and this summer it plays Westbury in Wiltshire and Weston-super-Mare in Somerset: paulkerensa.com/tour We mention Watchet's fabulous Radio Museum - do go: https://www.radiomuseum.uk/ Email the show at: https://paulkerensa.com/contact.php Paul's latest Substack, on the BBC cuts: paulkerensa.substack.com Our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/bbcentury Find us on BlueSky: bsky.bbcentury.social Find Paul on Instagram: instagram.com/paulkerensa Join Paul's mailing list This podcast is not made by today's BBC. It's just about the old BBC. Original podcast music is by Will Farmer.  Support us on Patreon? £5/mth, and get extra videos, writings, readings etc: patreon.com/paulkerensa - thanks! Or support this project with a one-off tip: ko-fi.com/paulkerensa - thanks too! Please share/rate/review this podcast if you like - it all helps. Next time, Episode 124: We're back in our timeline in Nov 1923 for the first BBC relay station, Sheffield 6FL. More on this broadcasting history project at paulkerensa.com/oldradio