Heather Bell Returns to The Archers

Heather Bell (Clarrie Grundy) 

BBC ©

Today was a day I, along with many other The Archers fans, had been waiting for. For today was the day Clarrie Grundy returned to the show as did Heather Bell after a thirty year absence. Bell originated the role of Clarrie in 1979 and played her until 1985. Up until 2012, the role of Clarrie had been played by the brilliant Rosalind Adams, who took over the role in 1988.

Clarrie's return coincided with her her son Will's 30th birthday.

The return itself was brilliant! Heather Bell did a fantastic job and it was quite obvious that she was glad to be back. And I did enjoy the episode for the most part (although I could have done without more of Alice's continuous whining over her job).

I'd like to end this post by simply saying, "Welcome back, Clarrie!"

Rosalind Adams to step down from playing Clarrie Grundy in The Archers after 25 years

Date: 21.09.2012

The actress Rosalind Adams, who plays the part of Clarrie Grundy in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, has announced that she is leaving the show to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Rosalind has been playing the long-suffering Clarrie, wife of loveable rogue Eddie and mother to warring brothers, Will and Ed, for 25 years. She became the third actress to take on the part when she took over from Fiona Mathieson in 1988. Previously Clarrie was played by Heather Bell who created the role in the 1970s.

Rosalind said: “I have been playing Clarrie for 25 years. I’m 68 now and have very young grandchildren with whom I want to spend more time. It has been a brilliant job for me and now I’m happy to hand it over to someone else.”

The Archers producers will be re-casting the part and begin the search for a new actress to take on the role.
Vanessa Whitburn, Editor of The Archers, said: “Rosalind has been a much-valued member of The Archers cast. We will miss her and she goes with our very best wishes and thanks.

“Listeners have taken Clarrie to their hearts as we’ve laughed and cried with her through the years. She has dealt with the various challenges presented to her by the men in her life with amazing fortitude and enviable stoicism. Our challenge now is to find an actress who can continue with the great work that Rosalind has done down the years, ensuring Clarrie retains her special place in listeners’ affections.”

Clarrie’s family moved to Ambridge in the early 1970s when her father took a job at Brookfield Farm. She married local ‘ne’er do well’ Eddie Grundy and as a couple they form the matriarch and patriarch of one of Ambridge’s best-loved families. Clarrie spends much of her time sorting out problems created by her husband, sons and father-in-law.

In 2011 Clarrie was at the centre of one of the key storylines in The Archers’ 60th anniversary year, when she was found to be responsible for an outbreak of E.coli at Bridge Farm Dairy.

(via BBC Media Centre)

Is The Archers going to get 'darker and bigger? No.

Keri Davies | 09:51 AM, Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Has recent press coverage made you worried that The Archers is going to take a lurch into EastEnders territority? Well, worry not, because it isn't. Acting Archers editor John Yorke explains the truth about this story.

A few months ago I was asked by a national newspaper if EastEnders would ever consider doing a live stage musical. I answered with a categorical 'No'. Two weeks later, I was slightly taken aback to read: 'EastEnders to stage musical'.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been shocked then to read a flurry of headlines yesterday, cataloging my plans to smash up Ambridge like some bloated property developer and turn it into Albert Square...
It's a great story - but it isn't true. The source was a fairly innocuous interview with Radio Times about what's coming up on the show.

A few months ago, Radio 4 had very kindly asked me if I'd consider looking after the programme for four months while its long standing editor Vanessa Whitburn was away. I agreed straight away - on one condition - that it stayed exactly as it was and that I didn't have to change anything.

The Archers has been in my family for three generations. It's as perfect as long running drama gets; why would I want to change a hair? Apart from anything else my Mum would probably kill me.

The comment that was picked up was very clearly a specific reference to one storyline - the intimidation of Ruth and David. Ironically, this story was planned long before I joined the show.

It is dark but in the very best traditions of a programme not scared to kill its leading lady in a barn fire, and it fits snugly I hope alongside everything Ambridge does best.

Joe's ferrets, Lynda's hay-fever and cliffhangers built on whether Clarrie will finish her jubilee cake in time; all will remain and I hope live for as long as The Archers draws breath.

John Yorke is the acting editor of The Archers

[. . .] Vanessa returns in July after a period of long service leave
 
(via The Archers Blog)

The Archers: Susan and Lynda Watch the DVD

Susan Carter (Charlotte Martin) and Lynda Snell (Carole Boyd) were watching footage from a security camera in the woods, hoping to catch sight of Lynda's "monster". Instead, they catch sight of something else. Hilarious scene from Friday's episode of The Archers.

The Archers to be more like Eastenders, with 'darker and bigger' plots to come

The Archers is becoming more like Eastenders, with cliffhangers, characters in jeopardy and darker plots to come, the show's new editor has disclosed. 

By Hannah Furness

7:00AM BST 05 Jun 2012

John Yorke, controller of BBC drama production and acting editor of The Archers, warned certain storylines would get “darker and bigger”, with a focus on triumph over adversity and dramatic twists to keep listeners wanting more.

He added it was important to put characters in danger to make the audience love them more, with each episode having a clear focus and storylines driven in new directions.

Mr Yorke, who was executive producer of EastEnders between 1999 and 2002, reassured listeners their favourite scenes of countryside domesticity would also remain in place, confirming: “The seasonal rhythms of agriculture, the floral competitions – those things are vital.”

The change, which comes as the show’s editor of 21 years Vanessa Whitburn takes a break, will include every episode having an “arc”, and cliffhangers to ensure listeners are “left wanting more”.

Speaking to the Radio Times about the similarities between the popular radio drama and BBC1’s soap opera Eastenders, Mr Yorke said: “The fundamentals of character and storyline being vital is the same.

“But The Archers moves at a slower pace than EastEnders, which is absolutely right. It’s an extraordinarily important programme to a lot of people and you don’t want to break it”

Earlier this year, Richard Bacon criticised the radio show for being “hum drum” and “dull”, where “fictional rural people chat aimlessly about their menial chores”.

“I honestly believe there are two types of people in the world: those who find The Archers boring … and those who find it boring but pretend to enjoy it as they think it makes them look superior,” he added.

His comments inspired an impassioned debate, with some quietly expressing support and others leaping to The Archers’ defence.

Now, after Mr Yorke threatened to invite him to open a fete in the fictional village of Ambridge, he said: “I shall certainly give the show another listen. That’s what drama needs: villains, arguments and someone getting their comeuppance.”

The change in direction is also likely to be welcome news for Prime Minister David Cameron who last year disclosed he preferred Eastenders to the Archers, claiming he was “of the Dirty Den generation.”

The programme is currently the longest-running serial in the world and the BBC’s most listened to radio programme online.

Famous fans of the soap, which has five million listeners, include Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellen, Kirstie Allsopp and Victoria Wood.

According to the BBC’s catch-up service, plots last week included “Pip is feeling unsettled”, “republican rumblings in Ambridge” and “Adam is causing concerns.”

Perhaps confirming the importance of occasional high drama, around 70,000 more listeners were reported to tune in last year when popular Nigel Pargeter was killed off in a rooftop fall.

Mr Yorke added the most dramatic storylines could still only be written about once a year, to avoid the rural drama becoming “implausible”

“I want it to feel like The Archers but as good as it can be,” he said.

(via The Telegraph)