Archers fans get pitchforks out over ‘teenage obsession’

‘Recent episodes sound like they’ve been written by fifth formers as part of their English GCSE project’

FANS of The Archers have complained that the Radio 4 rural soap has become obsessed with teenagers and now resembles Hollyoaks.

Listeners contacted Radio 4’s Feedback programme to register their dismay at the drama’s new direction.

Storylines include Chelsea Horrobin, 17, getting pregnant after a one-night stand and whether she has an abortion.

“I can’t be the only listener who is sick of having storylines around children and teens. If I wanted storylines about a bunch of bickering idiots, I would watch Hollyoaks or some other dismal programme,” said one listener.

Another said: “I’ve been listening to The Archers nigh on 50 years. But recent episodes sound like they’ve been written by fifth formers as part of their English GCSE project.

“One gets the distinct impression that whoever writes this drivel is desperately trying to woo a new generation of trendy young listeners. It won’t.

Instead, long-standing fans like me will slowly switch off.”

Jeremy Howe, editor of the programme, maintained that it had not changed and said the drama was not driven by “issues” but by good stories.

Asked why he had chosen to tackle teenage abortion, he said: “You need to put a character in a difficult and challenging situation and then explore it. Teenage pregnancy and abortion are both whacking great issues.

“Should Chelsea have the baby? Should she be a single parent? Should she have an abortion?

“We wanted to put a young woman in a very challenging situation and explore how difficult the decision is.”

Responding to listeners liking the storyline to Love Island and Eastenders as the identity of the father was drawn out over several episodes, Howe said: “It was a gripping story and I wanted it to be dramatic. What I don’t think we want is to be sensationalist.”

It came as the soap confirmed Graham Blockey, who played handyman Robert Snell and the husband of Lynda, had died, adding in a tweet: “Today we remember our friend and colleague Graham Blockey following the sad news of his death.”

Howe said: “Graham’s Robert Snell was a brilliant creation and a delicious one-off. We will miss him very much.”