Underneath the Archers

As hilarious, charming, eccentric, informative, addictive and delightful as the show itself STEPHEN FRY

Much-loved radio drama The Archers has reflected British life for over seventy years, with the changing fortunes of Ambridge mirroring those of the nation. For more than three decades, scriptwriter Graham Harvey shaped its farming storylines, writing over 600 episodes and creating iconic moments such as the Great Flood, the destruction of Brians GM crop, and the loss of the Grundy family farm.

In Underneath the Archers, Graham blends personal recollection with script extracts to reveal how key characters and plots evolved alongside real changes in rural life. He also examines the programmes role in Britains shift from small-scale, sustainable farming to industrial agriculture, and asks whether it might now help inspire a return to nature-friendly methods.

Alongside this runs a deeply personal story: Grahams discovery of his fathers dark wartime secret and its lasting impact on his family. Shaped by an unsettled childhood, he found stability in the fictional world of Ambridge and in a lasting love for Englands land, soil, and farming traditions.