Don't blame it on a Grundy, don't blame it on Route B, don't blame it on Sean O'C, blame it on the badgers. Discuss The Archers of Prudhoe here.

[PseudoBadger]

Oh, maybe byos, it's before my time... I do remember seeing something on that blog now you mention it. I can't believe how over infested I am in a fictional business! It's like the farm management assignments we used to get at uni!

Thankyou for new thread Pseudo . It's certainly motoring along in here today.

Threadmarking! (thanks pseudo )

Oh, and am convinced that Route B will be called off at the eleventh hour and there will still be Archers In Brookfield.

Perhaps we can get DadDadDad to make a spreadshit of posters' ages so we can see how 'typical' or 'target' we are.

Stunned by news up thread that they are replacing Tom. Does anyone know why? The actor sounds very upset .

And I always loved his voice so really sad

Yes - when it shows we are all mid thirties (average) we can tell mr o'connor to stick that in his pipe!

I have a sneaky hope that Ruth will go and the others will stay behind. Bit like Spaceship B on Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy where the useless ones were sent off and the others said they would follow as soon as they could.... and never did.

I'm 53 which will push the average up a bit.

Someone said tey were twenties so that should average you down!

Although it annoys me that older listeners (I mean old bit you mimsy!) are suddenly unwanted. Given how many elderly people rely on tv/radio for company it's pretty disgusting that they are seen as so worthless

I turn 62 this month so I'm definitely beneath Mr O'Cs notice.

As long as I can remember, BBC staff have been coming onto Feedback and talking about the importance of pulling in younger listeners to Radio 4. I suppose I must have been one of those younger listeners when I first heard it (depressing thought). They have always brushed aside the obvious response 'But what about keeping the audience you already have? You shouldn't take them for granted.'

Back in the 80s when I was becoming a confirmed R4 listener (having grown up with it, so no great stretch), those older listeners would have been in their 50s. Most of them will still be alive now, so I hope R4 hasn't driven them off.

Listening to speech radio is not something that seems to appeal greatly to most younger people. I know I was pretty unusual in being a R4 listener in my early 20s while at university and then doing professional training in London. I'd bet any money that a lot of my fellow students and trainees ended up listening to R4 at least occasionally over the subsequent decades.

there seems to be a sort of terror in many (particularly cultural) institutions of what will happen when the older enthusiasts SOTMC, so they must at all costs shore themselves up with younger folk to justify their existence. but the older folk aren't gone yet, and interpretations of what younger folk want seem to be misguided at best and offensive at worst, and basically no one is served well

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11204230/Actor-who-played-Tom-Archer-deposed-from-BBCs-The-Archers-after-17-years.html

Anyone else report my post on the last thread and get the hopeful message about a webchat with SO'C?

They are going to try I think!

Very nicely worded tweet from Tom.

You might have to scroll down a bit to see it.

Oops! Too late!! On the last thread!! Late to the party!

I turn 62 this month so I'm definitely beneath Mr O'Cs notice

Snap, Unitarian! Perhaps we're long-separated twins.

I loved the "thanks for all the sausages" quip.

Considering that the BBC are constantly running news stories about how the oldies are living longer & longer and the birth rate isn't high enough, you'd think they would be chasing rating from the wrinklies (probably includes self there) not the yoof.

Talking of which, what is the Gransnet's view of this? Anybody know?

I did CUP and posted their reply. (But you might mean anyone else)

Oh dear, this quote in that Telegraph article doesn't look good:-

Mr Graham chose not to comment further on his departure but his sister, Ellie, noted that Mr O’Connor was making “many changes to storyline and cast… of which Tom is the latest”.

I'm assuming that the actor is in touch with other cast members and has some idea of what is to come.

Tail-enders of the baby boom, icimoi

He obviously thinks it has to be young uns listening to the podcast. Not quite getting that the Internet isn't limited to the under 40's

It's all a little offensive tbh. If you guys hadn't said your age I would in no way had guessed because - shock horror - people aren't defined by their age.

Popped over to Gransnet: the most popular thread on their Television and Radio section is, of course, 'Archers Addicts'. They seem to be echoing what we are saying (or v.v., depending on your POV)

Typical comment re Friday: "Unbelievable episode tonight. I might just have to stop listening."

I don't feel particularly ancient TBH. I'm pretty savvy on techy stuff as well.

However, I don't get any of the musical references on TA and rely on you lot to explain them!

Well, he's got rid of Kirsty. It looks as if he might have got rid of Hayley and Abbie. None of us would be surprised if Roy, Mike, Vicky and Bethany were next. He's threatening to relocate David, Ruth, Josh, Ben and Jill. Daniel has gone into the army.

He's re-cast Tony and Josh, now he's going to re-cast Tom, he's brought back Carol with a new actor and brought in Charlie and Justin.

It's been months since we've heard Kathy, Jamie, Alan or Chris (Carter). Ian, Alistair, Usha, Caroline and Oliver are scarcely ever on air. When did we last hear Matt, one of the best characters in the programme (and one of the best actors too)?

All this in under a year. Hmmmm.