Archers set to return to normal after monologues

The Archers has returned to the studio – signalling the end of its much-derided monologue experiment.

Writers decided to fea - ture characters’ thoughts and musings after lockdown forced them to bin scripts of the world’s longest-running soap.

The change, described as a“thrilling pro po sition” by one producer, was deemed “tedious” by many Ambridge listeners.

Now, Radio 4 has released a snap of some of the cast returning to the recording studio.

The soap’s editor Jeremy Howe said The Arc hers will be returning to “as it was before the pandemic”, step-by-step.

He described some of the monologue scenes as “pure gold”, adding that “listeners wrote in” to say they identified with many of the moments.

But he said boss es “understand” why some listeners want the return of the old format.

“We know how important The Archers is to our listeners, and just as many people have enjoyed hearing characters’ inner thoughts we know others have longed for the pro - gramme they know and love,” he said.

“Of course, dealing with the impact of c or on avirus has been an enormous challenge but listeners have now star ted to hear certain storylines resume as well as dialogue.”