Archers shock as abused wife stabs her husband
IT has been an excruciating plotline of domestic abuse, built up over two years.
Last night on The Archers the story of Helen Titchener and husband Rob came to an explosive head, culminating in what appeared to be the first murder in the Radio 4 soap’s 65-year history.
Social media went into meltdown as tens of thousands of listeners vented their terror and shock when Helen stabbed abusive Rob in a dinner-time struggle in front of their five-year-old son Henry.
Moments earlier, she had bravely informed him she was going to leave him because of his controlling behaviour.
Fans of the programme have been listening in dismay for two years as Rob has gradually eroded Helen’s self-esteem, dictating what she wears and when she is allowed to leave the home. There have even been suggestions that he has raped her.
In last night’s episode, Rob handed her a knife saying it was ‘the only way out’, taunting ‘you are nothing without me here’. Then everything went quiet.
As Rob, played by Timothy Watson, apparently lay dying, Helen, played by Louiza Patikas, told worried Henry his daddy was merely ‘asleep’. But she then telephoned her friend Kirsty Miller to tell her that she had killed Rob ‘to make him stop’.
The reaction of shock was all the greater because Sean O’Connor, editor of The Archers, had previously hinted Rob might be the one to be ‘capable of murder’.
Complaining that the show has turned into ‘EastEnders in a field’, horrified fans threatened to stop listening if the show’s makers decided on that ‘cop-out ending’. Among fans expressing their reaction last night was broadcaster and comedienne Pam Ayres, who claimed the instalment had left her ‘in a state of nervous collapse’.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘Gutwrenching scenes to make you
‘Humdinger of
an episode’
stagger, Helen stabbed him with a dagger. Lying in his bloodstained shirt Rob got his pie and his dessert.’
Other listeners praised the way the controversial storyline was handled. Becka Gandy, a teacher, said: ‘Never been so shocked by any radio, film or TV. Incredible depiction of abuse – true public service from the BBC.’
Barrister Nigel Pascoe QC said: ‘I know we are not allowed to tout, but I am more than prepared to represent Helen, along with most of the criminal bar...’
Novellist Linda Grant said she was ‘ actually shaking’ after the murder, while Caroline Shutter, who chairs a theatre charity, said it was a ‘humdinger of an episode’.
Newsreader Corrie Corfield said: ‘Thunderous downpour in Tooting. Perfect accompaniment to the horror coming out of my wireless at the moment [in] The Archers.’
Andrew Thackeray, an artistic director from Salisbury, joked on Twitter: ‘ OMG! Helen. Glad it’s all been recorded. Cops will be able to listen to back episodes on iplayer & know what’s been going on.’
Archers scriptwriter Tim Stimpson last night thanked fans for their messages of praise.
He wrote: ‘It was a shocking thing to write. I could hardly believe the words on the screen. Lots of credit to the whole team.’ But when asked if Rob had really died, he teased: ‘Obviously I couldn’t possibly comment! It’s going to be quite a week though...’
Defending the domestic violence storyline last week, Mr O’Connor told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour: ‘I think it’s absolutely what The Archers should be doing ... We’re trying to do it faithfully and honour the women’s stories we’re trying to represent.’