I am not sure I can cope with all this mucking around with the media. On TV, we keep seeing Digit-Al telling us to prepare for the switchover. And then they announced that BBC Radio 7 is changing its name to Radio 4 Extra.
Bob teases me enough about my ‘addiction’ to radio 4, and I have usually countered this with ‘but I listen to BBC7 just as much’. Now 7 becoming 4extra just adds weight to his comments!
And they have announced that 4extra will be launching an Archers Spin-Off on April 5th. I am not convinced about this – who are they expecting to tune in? Is it an attempt to catch a younger audience by reporting on Alice’s doings at Uni? or older folk who are desperate to discover Freda Fry’s cooking secrets? I read the report in the Guardian and was greatly amused by the caption under this picture
The Archers' Andrew Wincott (Adam Macy) and Ian Craig (Stephen Kennedy).
As Bob keeps telling me “Ambridge is NOT a real place- these characters are FICTIONAL”
That’s as maybe – but does this photo show the actors [Andrew and Stephen] or the characters [Adam and Ian] The Guardian seems delightfully confused on this point!
Ambridge Characters who we never get to hear…
Titcombe [loyal retainer at LL] now Nigel’s gone from Lower Loxley, will we hear something of him, do you think?
Sabrina Thwaite [sloaney type, often ogled by Eddie] I think she should have an encounter with the Dreadful Vicky Tucker.
Neville Booth [bellringer and jazz fanatic] I suspect he is also fond of Dr Who and/or Star Trek. Can’t work out how he would fit into an episode!
Reg Hebden [grandfather of Daniel Hebden-Lloyd] – he should get into a heated debate with Jim [Alistair’s Dad – and Shula H-L’s FIL] about The Youth Of Today.
Check out this page to see a list of all the ‘silent characters’ The BBC lists Freda Fry as a ‘silent character’ – but true Ambridge aficionados remember that we heard her once, and the voice was that of a certain Dame, who also works as James Bond’s boss!
If you listen too The Archers., will you tune in to this new offering?
And what will they do about a signature tune?
Can't say that the Archers get listened to much here, but a lot of the rest of radio 4 does. haven't heard 7 since I broke the aerial on my lovely digital Christmas present quite some time ago! But you are obviously the person of whom to ask the name of the man who does the in between bits on 4 at lunchtime- fascinating character!
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining this new fangled radio 4 extra, didn't realise it was radio 7. As for an Archer's spin - off will have to give it a try, but will there be a daily broadcast with an omnibus to catch up or a weekly offering of some sort? Maybe they could move Vicky Tucker to radio 4 extra!! can't bear her I'm afraid.
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