Daily Express

Farmageddo­n! Fans switch off Archers

- By Steph Spyro THE NATIONAL LOTTERY By News Reporter

ARCHERS devotees have been switching off in droves after the lockdown forced bosses to broadcast monologues only.

Some listeners, who’d tuned into the rural soap for more than three decades, said the format change was the final straw.

But scriptwrit­er Keri Davies begged them to give the BBC Radio 4 show another chance.

Responding to two deserters, he said: “I find it hard to understand that after thousands of episodes you’re going to give this format up after four.

“I would urge you to give us a little longer. I’d just urge folk to give it a chance – stick with it for a while.”

Producers have been unable to put together normal shows because of social distancing rules. Instead, the soap spent a month off air before episodes of monologues broadcast last week.

One listener tweeted: “Appreciate the challenge that the writers have responded to, four were and I am sure they’ve applied all their profession­al skills. But after 30+ years, my one week of listening to monologues is enough. Sorry, not for me.”

Many fans asked why it was not possible to feature conversati­ons between two characters, recorded from their homes.

Keri said that poorly soundproof­ed home studios made this impossible because of the number of retakes. He added: “Doubling the number of characters doubles, if not squares, the chances of discarded takes.”

But some fans said they were warming to the format. One wrote: “It is better than no Archers, although I’m surprised the production team do not have the technology to bring that cast together remotely.”

Another said the slowdown in pace “reflected the change of pace in my own life”.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

THE HEALTH LOTTERY

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

A PHOTOGRAPH­ER captured this stunning shot as a deer popped its head above crops.

Will Hall, 26, saw the animal as he walked his dog in Overton, Hants.

But he had to crawl on a dirt track to avoid disturbing the roebuck nestled in the undergrowt­h.

Will, of Winchester, said: “I spotted what I thought was a tree stump. It was the antlers of a roebuck, so I crawled closer and got my camera.

“I even used the sound of a passing train to cover my movements.”

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Picture: SWNS
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Plea...scriptwrit­er Keri Davies
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