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A Social History of The Archers

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BBC Radio 4 - A Social History of The Archers

David Kynaston on the changing face of Ambridge.

Historian David Kynaston explores the way the villagers of Ambridge and beyond have reflected the seismic shifts in British society across the last seven decades.

From squirearchy in the 1950s, where caps were doffed to lords of the manor, via teddy boys tearing up the village in the 1960s, to the heretical change of name recently inflicted on the venerable old Bull, Ambridge hasn’t spent the past seventy years frozen in aspic. Far from it. In this programme, featuring extracts from the series and many new interviews, David Kynaston brings a professional historian’s eye to bear on the way the Archers has reflected, over the seven decades of its existence, the immense changes in the way we live our lives, socially, culturally, politically and – not least - agriculturally. 

With new contributions by June Spencer (Peggy Archer), Patricia Greene (Jill Archer), Angela Piper (Jennifer Aldridge), Tim Bentinck (David Archer), Louiza Patikas (Helen Titchener), Joanna Toye, Vanessa Whitburn, Tim Stimpson, Sarah Swadling and Jeremy Howe.

Producer: Simon Elmes

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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