Why the Archers’ abuse trial is a travesty of justice

Millions have tuned in to the Radio 4 soap opera’s latest storyline which has drawn widespread praise for its portrayal of domestic abuse and coercion.

But Rodney Warren, erstwhile chairman of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, said: “If any listeners find themselves in custody, they will expect a barrister to turn up to visit them twice a week. This will not happen, especially not on legal aid.”

Mr Warren, who advised the show’s producers for 14 years, is “concerned that the working of the criminal justice system, in terms of solicitors and barristers working together in the best interest of clients, has not been demonstrated. “The barrister character is a good one, but it’s a shame she has been portrayed as a one-man band,” he said.

Tonight at 7pm, listeners will hear a special extended episode to mark the end of Helen Titchener’s trial.

In the show’s first hour-long episode, jurors – voiced by Graham Seed, who played Nigel Pargetter, Dame Eileen Atkins, Nigel Havers and Catherine Tate – will decide her fate. Actress Louiza Patikas, who has played Helen for 16 years, said: “I always said to Sean [O’Connor, the show’s outgoing editor] that I really hope it’s a redemptive storyline, because we all need that at some point, but it’s his call.”

After living the abuse story for three years, she said: “It has been extraordinary, because – as much as we all knew it was a very powerful storyline – none of us anticipated the impact.”

Speaking about recording the scene in which Helen stabs husband Rob in their kitchen, Patikas said: “It was very emotional on every level.” Helen’s fictional barrister, the committed but occasionally drunk Anna Tregorran, has already faced criticism.

Her questioning of Rob Tichener and witnesses for his defence was dubbed rambling, “woolly” and just plain bad, replete with “basic errors”.

Mr Warren was baffled by Tregorran’s decision not to interview Helen’s mother or her friend Kirsty, supposedly because they were already due to appear as witnesses for the prosecution. Helen has been unable to see both women for the same reason. But Mr Warren said: “Helen is in custody and has no bail conditions, so anyone would be able to visit her if they wished.”

A spokesman for the BBC said: “We have gone to great lengths to research and develop this storyline with legal guidance and help from charities, but as our listeners know, is a fictional 15-minute programme so on occasion there’s some element of dramatic licence involved.”