The world's longest-running radio drama, The Archers, is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a brand-new live production that will tour the UK from June to November 2026. This unique show brings the beloved iconic radio drama out of the studio and onto stages across the country, offering fans an unforgettable evening of entertainment and behind-the-scenes insight.
Host and Cast
Hosted by award-winning comedian and devoted Archers fan Angela Barnes, each performance features a cast of four actors alongside Vanessa Nuttall, the show's live sound-effects specialist. Joining the tour are eight of Ambridge's most beloved voices. At Manchester's Palace Theatre on June 7, the "Produce Cast" will include Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge), Ryan Kelly (Jazzer McCreary), Susie Riddell (Tracy Horrobin), and Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy). Other dates will feature the "Flower Cast" of Tim Bentinck, Annabelle Dowler, Charlotte Martin, and Ben Norris.
A Rich History
First broadcast on January 1, 1951, The Archers is the world's longest-running radio drama. Broadcasting six times a week to millions of listeners, the programme follows the everyday lives, loves, and dramas of the residents of the fictional village of Ambridge, deep in the heart of the English countryside. Over more than 20,000 episodes, the show has chronicled significant social and cultural changes in Britain, dealing with complex contemporary issues alongside the traditional rhythms of rural life. It remains one of the BBC's most popular programmes and is currently the top on-demand show for listeners of all ages on BBC Sounds, regularly topping the list for listeners under 35.
What to Expect at the Show
Set within a playful reimagining of the Ambridge Flower and Produce Show, The Archers: Live at 75 blends theatricality, nostalgia, comedy, and behind-the-scenes insight. The evening will include on-stage interviews, insider stories and gossip, live performances with live foley sound effects of specially written scenes created exclusively for the tour, archive treasures spanning seven decades from the BBC vaults, fascinating demonstrations of sound-effects artistry, audience questions, an interactive pub quiz straight out of The Bull, and a sing-along to the programme's famous theme tune.
Quotes from the Cast and Crew
Charles Collingwood, who plays Brian Aldridge, said: "My character Brian would never want to go on tour; he would find it a distraction from the ongoing problems at Home Farm! I, however, am longing to celebrate the Archers' 75th Anniversary with enthusiastic vigour. May The Produce Show produce the goods in every way, a show full of fun, laughter and surprises! Roll up Roll up!"
Angela Barnes, host, said: "I am not just an Archers superfan, I am obsessed with all things Ambridge. So to be asked to host The Archers: Live at 75 is like winning a prize at the Flower and Produce Show and being cast as the lead in a Lynda Snell production, all rolled into one. I can't wait to hang out with all of my favourite characters and really immerse myself in Borsetshire life."
Alison Hindell, Drama and Fiction Commissioner, BBC Radio 4, said: "The Archers is one of the BBC's most-loved programmes, and we are tremendously proud of it as it reaches its 75th year. We hope that the live show will give fans even more of what they love, joining in the celebrations with an extra slice of Ambridge life."
The tour offers newcomers an accessible introduction to the drama's world, while giving long-time listeners a rare look into how Ambridge is created, revealing the artistry behind the character work, development of storylines, and the unmistakable soundscape that defines the series.
