The Archers

Here are two stories of love, lust, happiness, and heartache from Britain's longest-running and best-loved radio serial. Pub landlord Sid Perks is led astray when his keep-fit regime at the local gym leads to a steamy affair with Jolene Rogers, a country-and-western singer....For Emma Carter, choosing a husband is not so straightforward. She finds herself torn between loyal, devoted Will Grundy and his dangerous bad-boy brother Ed.

>For over 50 years, Britain's most popular radio drama has captured the imagination of listeners throughout the country. Ambridge and its residents have been constant companions to millions throughout the highs and lows of five successive decades. Covering the years 1968 to 1986, Joanna Toye's novel follows the fortunes of Dan and Doris's grandchildren, as they search for happiness and love in the changing world of the 70s and early 80s. Jennifer's struggles as an unmarried mother look to be over....

The first fascinating part of Joanna Toye's delightful trilogy about life in Ambridge. Covering the years 1951-1967, Family Ties introduces the main characters: Dan, Doris, Phil, Christine, Jack and Peggy and their children, Walter Gabriel, the Fairbrothers and Tom Forrest. The early years are action-packed: Phil's courtship and marriage to Grace and her tragic death; his subsequent marriage to Jill and the birth of their children; Jack's drinking problem and later, the birth of Jennifer's illegitimate baby.

After Jennifer’s marriage to Roger Travers-Macy ran into trouble, she returned to Ambridge to await divorce proceedings to run their course. During this period she met Brian Aldridge, new owner of Home Farm, and when the divorce finally came through they were able to make wedding plans.

From Parents’ Evening to the PTA, and from supply teachers to staff room squabbles, every day brings fresh challenges for headmaster Mr Beeston. Among the problems facing him are a flu epidemic, a shortage of computers, a phantom prune thief and a mysterious graffiti artist - and there’s trouble in store when in comes to sex education, school trips and Sports Day. Meanwhile, idealistic newcomers Mr Brown and Mr Sims learn some lessons about teaching, and their battle-scarred colleagues vie for promotion - or look forward to retirement. 

Timothy Bentinck has played the part of David Archer in BBC Radio 4's The Archers since 1982. He is also the Earl of Portland and the voice of 'Mind the Gap' on the Piccadilly Line. Aimed primarily at the five million regular Archers listeners, Timothy takes the listener behind the scenes of the longest running drama series in the world, a British institution with a theme tune that Billy Connolly wants to be the National Anthem.

Jack was Dan and Doris’ other son, Peggy was the girl from the East End of London; together they ran the Bull pub in the village, but Jack’s addictions to alcohol and gambling caused problems in this marriage.

Sid Perks came from Birmingham and ran the village shop with Polly. After that, he became the landlord of the Bull pub at the heart of the village, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Separated from his wife and children, gamekeeper George Barford took to drink and even attempted suicide. The woman who vowed to turn his life around was – curiously - the local barmaid Nora.

In 1958 Phil and Jill’s first children were born - the couple were blessed with twins, daughter Shula and son Kenton.

Meet Surbiton’s most famous residents: Tom, Barbara, Margo and Jerry. It is Tom Good's 40th birthday, and he feels thoroughly unfulfilled. If only he can discover what 'It' is, and if he can, will his wife Barbara agree to do 'It' with him? The subsequent and sudden transformation of the Goods’ home into a smallholding causes consternation for Margo and Jerry next door, and they decide it’s their duty to interfere. So begins The Good Life, the much loved classic sitcom starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith.

A stunning collection of the Bronte sisters' novels, adapted by the best-selling author Rachel Joyce. The collection includes Agnes Grey, Jane Eyre, Shirley, The Professor, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Villette and Wuthering Heights.

Manchester detective DCI Stone and his team are faced with 10 complex, morally challenging cases in this collection of hard-hitting radio dramas. As series 5 opens, Stone is still reeling from the mishandled shooting of Callum Gartside, a gunman who had murdered his own family. With his personal life in tatters, he must find the strength to hold it together and do his job. 

In this compilation, Phil Archer and Tom Forrest lie in wait for a poacher - and Bob Larkin accidentally gets shot. Plans to run electricity pylons through Ambridge cause uproar, and Dan Archer discovers a case of fowl pest. Also, Walter Gabriel’s sheep are attacked by stray dogs.

Crabby, crusty, and curmudgeonly he may be, but Victor Meldrew, played brilliantly by Richard Wilson, voices the exasperation of the once silent majority. Accompanied by his long-suffering wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie), Victor's howlingly funny battles against what he perceives as modern-day ills have turned him into one of the great comic creations of our time.