The Archers is the world’s longest running radio drama series, and had developed from the everyday of country folk to a contemporary drama in a rural setting. Episode 16,000 of The Archers was broadcast on 17th January 2010. A pilot series created by Geoffrey Baseley of five daily episodes was first broadcast from Birmingham on the BBC Midland Home Service beginning Whit Monday 29th May 1950. Since 1st January 1951 five (now six) 15 minute episodes have been broadcast weekly, together with a weekly Omnibus edition, firstly on the BBC Light Programme and later the BBC Home Service (now BBC Radio 4). The latest Rajar figures registered over five million listeners each week.
Borsetshire Life is the county magazine featured in The Archers, and The Silk Press is publishing Borsetshire Life under licence to the BBC as part of The Archers 60th Anniversary. To quote the editor of Borsetshire Life, Glen Whitehouse:
“As everyone knows, Borsetshire lies betwixt and between Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The river Am flows through one of Borsetshire’s main towns – the administrative centre of Borchester – before winding its way towards the Severn and Avon, and our countryside is, quite simply, idyllic. Borsetshire prides itself on the quality of its farming produce, from the choicest cuts of Hassett Hills lamb and Hereford beef, to pioneering organic farmers and cheese producers. And as with other Midlands counties, Borsetshire has recently become a producer of fine quality white wine from the Lower Loxley vineyard. I’d like to think that our special anniversary issue will contribute to all this excellence in taste!”
Borsetshire Life is published in March 2011 and will be available in selected bookshops and online, priced £7.95.
Why not purchase an advance copy of the magazine and save £2 in the process. Go to our shop for more details.
