Eagerly-awaited trial of abused wife Helen set to grip fans of the Archers

IT IS the date millions of Ambridge fans have been waiting for - the start of Helen Titchener’s trial.

The Archers announced the court case, following the Radio 4 soap’s gripping domestic abuse storyline, will begin on-air on Sunday.

Helen, played by Louiza Patikas, faces charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent after stabbing her abusive but seemingly charming husband Rob, played by Timothy Watson.

Editor Sean O’Connor promised “both a shocking and deeply-moving trial” which will follow the trajectory of a real-life court case.

Helen stabbed Rob in Blossom Hill Cottage in front of her young son Henry in April after a domestic abuse storyline which sparked an increase in calls to the National Domestic Violence Helpline.

The storyline even prompted a Helen Titchener Fund, which raised more than £130,000 for domestic violence charity Refuge after it was set up by a listener.

Mr O’Connor, the soap’s outgoing editor who is moving to EastEnders, said The Archers Trial Week would be as dramatic as the death of Grace Archer in 1955.

“I can promise both a shocking and deeply-moving trial” he said. “Working with charities and legal advisers, we’ve been telling Helen’s story as realistically as possible over hundreds of episodes, in all its detail and horror, and it’s a kind of realism that only radio drama can achieve.

“When I joined as an editor I did wonder, was it possible in the 21st century to create a moment as dramatic and memorable as the death of Grace Archer in 1955? It turns out that you can.”