All About The Archers

The Archers Live at 75: Angela Barnes Answers Your Questions | Part 2

All About The Archers

Show Notes

Angela Barnes, comedian, Archers superfan and host of The Archers Live at 75, is back with Philippa, Katie and Quentin, and this time you are asking the questions. Thank you to everyone in the Facebook group who sent one in. If you missed part one, do go back and listen to it first, not least for the backstory Charlotte Martin has invented to get Angela into the Horrobin family. Watch this episode This episode is also available as video on Apple Podcasts: Watch All About The Archers on Apple Podcasts In this episode The friends who message Angela the moment something big happens in Ambridge Why she listens every day at bedtime, and her advice for omnibus listeners Whether touring with the cast has changed how she pictures the characters Charles Collingwood and the nightly boos (with Quentin, the lone Brian apologist, cheering) The Ambridge family she would most like to join Her verdict on Sykesy's comedy The first storyline that gripped her, the one that made a real difference, and why she will always love a Flower and Produce Show Which cast members and famous faces have been in the audience Whether seeing the actors spoils the pictures in your head Archers audiences summed up: "it's not a cult, but it sort of is" What she learned on tour about how the programme is made, including the studio sofa bed Why Jazzer sings a different song at every show Who she would take on Race Across the World One for the Facebook group Liz asked which song Ryan Kelly sang at Bexhill on 11 September. Angela has promised to ask him, and we will post the answer in the Facebook group if he can remember. Topics covered: Lynda Snell, Susan Carter, Tracy Horrobin, Brian Aldridge, Siobhan, Sykesy, Jakob, Helen, Kate, Jolene, Harrison, Lilian, Jill, Jazzer, Rex, Ben, Tom Archer, the Grundys, the Horrobins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Oct 20, 2026

Katie and Philippa look back at events in Ambridge from Sunday 18 to Tuesday 20 October, and somehow it is still Sunday. The storm everyone was warned about has arrived in full force, and we are, in Katie’s words, shook. We start with the most horrifying thing of all: crème brûlée and tarte tatin as the full range of wedding puddings. Then the real question. With a forecast like that and a venue owned by the family, why didn’t anyone just postpone? Watch this episode This episode is also available as video on Apple Podcasts: Watch All About The Archers on Apple Podcasts In this episode Wedding puddings, and why Elizabeth could have called it off Chelsea, Vince and Josh in the forest, and a heart-wrenching episode A warm welcome to Sam Wilkinson, our new Josh Did David have one champagne too many, and could he drive any slower? A commanding Harrison, and Zainab and the Orangery Pip and Stella: drop the dance, read the room Eddie and Clarrie’s turkeys, and whether they all wore seatbelts Why does nobody in Ambridge answer their phone? Could this be Freddie’s moment, at Casey Meats or Lower Loxley? The brilliant sound design contrasting the storm with the warmth of the wedding Star of the Week, Twit of the Week and predictions, including weather researchers descending on Ambridge How you can help Thank you for all the love for our emergency episode with Susie Riddell, Annabelle Dowler and Andrew Wincott. If you haven’t heard it yet, do go back and listen or watch. Please sign the petition to keep The Archers in Birmingham: Keep The Archers in Birmingham Coming up Part two of our interview with Angela Barnes, answering your questions from the Facebook group, is out this weekend. We’re back next Tuesday with more from Ambridge. Topics covered: Chelsea, Vince, Josh, Elizabeth, David, Freddie, Lily, Harrison, Zainab, Khalil, Keira, Henry, Pip, Stella, Ruth, Ben, Anna, Alan, Eddie, Clarrie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2026

An emergency episode. Following the news that The Archers will no longer have its planned new studio in Birmingham, Philippa is joined by three of the cast: Susie Riddell, who plays Tracy Horrobin, Annabelle Dowler, who plays Kirsty Miller, and Andrew Wincott, who plays Adam Macy. They explain what has happened, why recording the programme away from its production team would change The Archers as we know it, and what the decision could mean for Birmingham and the West Midlands. Most importantly, they tell us what we as listeners can do to help. Watch this episode This episode is also available as video on Apple Podcasts: Watch All About The Archers on Apple Podcasts In this episode What has happened, and why the cast found out by email Why the actors and the production team need to be in the same building How the studio works, from the dead room to the sofa that turns into a bed Making six episodes a week, 52 weeks a year The wider impact on jobs, training and young talent in the Midlands What the studio could be used for on the days The Archers isn’t recording Why the cast believe the move would be a false economy Would EastEnders ever be moved to Liverpool? The solidarity of the cast, past and present What listeners can do to help And finally, Adam, Tracy and Kirsty together at last How you can help The cast are asking listeners to make their feelings known. Write to your MP, especially if you live in the Midlands. Write to the BBC. And share your support on social media. As Andrew says, the battle is not lost. Topics covered: Tracy Horrobin, Kirsty Miller, Adam Macy, Debbie Aldridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2026

Philippa, Katie and Quentin are back with everything that’s happened in Ambridge from Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 October, and we are all, by our own admission, a little bit grumpy. Freddie divides the team straight away. Katie has not missed the whining, Quentin thinks Vince is right, and Philippa is firmly Team Freddie and has some words for Elizabeth. Philippa then gets the Josh situation off her chest, while Quentin finds himself siding with him for once. Watch this episode This episode is also available as video on Apple Podcasts: Watch All About The Archers on Apple Podcasts In this episode Is Freddie ready to take on Lower Loxley, and is Elizabeth helping? Josh, the wedding and South America Happy 16th birthday to Khalil, plus Keira’s half-term tuition Why did Khalil walk off, and who has told Henry what? Azra and Ruth are friends again Usha calms Anna down, and the question of one transaction or two A Facebook group member’s 50p birthday present Quentin’s complaint about Sunday’s farming lessons Brian’s best line, Tom’s greenhouse and poor Alistair and the vet bills Unicorns, a first dance with the cows, and whose wedding is it anyway? Stars (and hugs) of the Week, and Twits of the Week, including Philippa breaking the fourth wall Predictions, featuring a three-hour Wizard of Oz special and some positive manifesting Coming up Thank you for all your lovely comments on our interview with Angela Barnes. Part two, with your questions from the Facebook group, follows a week on Saturday, and we’re back next Tuesday with more from Ambridge. Topics covered: Freddie, Elizabeth, Vince, Lily, Harrison, Fallon, Josh, Pip, Rosie, Khalil, Keira, Eddie, Henry, Azra, Ruth, Usha, Anna, Alan, Brian, Tom, Helen, Alistair, Stella, Shula, David Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2026

Philippa, Katie and Quentin are joined by comedian, Archers superfan and host of The Archers Live at 75, Angela Barnes. Angela tells us what it is really like touring the country in a minibus she has christened the Archers Omnibus, including the Sunday morning when Charles Collingwood asked the driver to put Radio 4 on. She also explains why this is the first job she has ever had without imposter syndrome & the only one where she cried when she got it and who would win The Traitors. Watch this episode This episode is also available as video on Apple Podcasts: Watch All About The Archers on Apple Podcasts In this episode Flower or Produce: does Angela have a favourite cast? The two "tester" jokes that tell her how the night is going to go Why she cut most of the tech from the show, and what audiences have made of the QR code Vanessa's sound effects, the gasps from the audience, and whether seeing behind the scenes spoils the magic Tour gossip, with Ben Norris firmly under the Archers Omnibus Angela's "audition" for Jeremy Howe, and the backstory Charlotte Martin has invented for her as a long-lost Horrobin Her Star and Twit of the Week The Ambridge neighbours she would choose, and the one who would send her straight to Darrington Who she would take to the Edinburgh Fringe, and who is the funniest character in Ambridge How she got hooked on The Archers as a student in the mid 90s An Ambridge Grand Prix, what colour The Archers is, and who she would want in a Cold War bunker Who would make the best Traitor in Ambridge And, most importantly, her biscuit of choice Coming up Angela is back with us in two weeks to answer your questions from the Facebook group. Topics covered: Brian Aldridge, Adam, Xander, Joy Horville, Tracy Horrobin, Jazzer, Helen Archer, Susan Carter, Bert Horrobin, Jakob, Leonard, Ben Archer, Lilian, Lynda Snell, Robert Snell, Sabrina Thwaite, Mandy Beesborough, Amber. The Traitors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2026

Philippa and Quentin look back at events in Ambridge from Sunday 4 October to Tuesday 6 October 2026. Quentin cannot get over a £400 bill for cleaning a cat's teeth, while Philippa points out that someone has to pay for the new anaesthetic monitoring system. Alistair insists there is nothing to worry about at the practice. Philippa has written in capitals that he should be worried. On the bright side, he may have found his marketing slogan: "We're not AI vet bots." Anna is bereft and full of praise for Alan, and we both have the same note about where that might be heading. Quentin gives full marks to the writing in Alan's conversation with Anna about why people so often slip away when nobody is in the room. Sunday's word was awkward. Harrison and Lily, Fallon and Grant, and a round of spicy margaritas that neither of us has ever tried. Was Fallon proving a point, or simply allowed a bit of fun? We do not agree. We also disagree about whether Vince was firing a warning shot or handling things beautifully. Then there is Keira's toothache, Clarrie's miraculous 10am emergency dental appointment and Eddie's diagnosis of adolescent molar shift. Quentin thinks it is wrong on at least four levels. Philippa thinks something is going on and wants Eddie to find out what. Amber has a visit from the health visitor and takes the baby to see her mum, and we look ahead to the Grundy cider wetting of the baby's head. Plus the brilliant baby name suggestions in our Facebook group, a welcome mention of the word biscuit, our Stars and Twits of the Week, and predictions involving a Porsche. This week's episodes were written by Sarah Hehir. Coming up: if all goes well, our interview with Angela Barnes, host of The Archers Live at 75 events, will be out this weekend. Listen and watch here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/all-about-the-archers/id1706526260 Topics covered: Alistair, Paul, Denise, Shula, Anna, Alan, Carol, Harrison, Lily, Fallon, Grant, Conrad, Vince, Beth, Ben, Keira, Clarrie, Eddie, George, Brad, Amber, Anne-Marie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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