Tag: The Archers

The Archers Highlight the Issues of Domestic Abuse

dashWe’ve mentioned before that the BBC long running audio drama series The Archers have been helping a charity highlight the issues of domestic abuse. As this story line winds down, Helen Titchener, is on trial for the murder of her husband. The Slough Express writes:

A domestic abuse charity from Slough is hoping a hit radio show’s harrowing storyline will help bring the plight of domestic abuse victims ‘to the forefront of everyone’s minds’.

The tale of Helen Titchener, from BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, came to a gripping conclusion on Sunday.

She was accused of attempting to murder her abusive husband Rob, who had subjected her to months of physical and mental abuse.

During a special hour-long episode, a jury found her not guilty.

After the show’s conclusion, Becky Spiller, head of services at The Dash Charity, told the Express that the storyline helped address some misconceptions people have on domestic abuse victims.

Becky said: “In the case of Helen and Rob they’re quite a well to do middle class couple.

“People sometimes have a preconception in their heads that only a certain class of people will be victims of domestic violence.

“But it can be very difficult to leave an abusive relationship, especially when children are involved, and this storyline has really highlighted that.

“The issue needs to be talked about more and brought to the forefront of everyone’s minds.”

Getting Fresh with the Archers

coldoughsStoke-on-Trent seems to be just getting stoked now that their alternative soap to The Archers has gotten national attention. The Colcloughs is the first radio drama to be made outside of BBC‘s London headquarters. Check out the full story from The Stage:

A radio soap opera first aired in Stoke-on-Trent 25 years ago is to be featured on national radio for the first time.

Written by a team led by Coronation Street writer Tony Perrin, The Colcloughs aired for one series on BBC Radio Stoke in 1991 – and was the first BBC radio serial drama to be made outside the Corporation’s London headquarters.

Creator and producer Mike Hopwood, who has masterminded the revival, said the show still sounded like a fresh alternative to The Archers, which he described as “a bit mundane and quite middle class”.

Claiming The Colcloughs could “complement” the BBC Radio 4 drama soap, Hopwood said: “Having heard it all again recently, I am confident it remains as relevant and entertaining today as it was in 1991. It’s a real shame it was only ever heard once – on one local station.”

He added that daily airings mean that audiences will now be able to “make a date” with the show more easily than when it was first aired.

“When the drama launched, we only had the capacity to produce one midweek episode, with a repeat at the weekend. But now the serial is ‘on the shelf’ it can be rerun daily… so our audience can more easily make a date with it,” Hopwood said.

It is hoped that a second series could be funded and commissioned if the revival is a success.

The Colcloughs’ 15-minute episodes will air daily from May 16 on RNIB Connect Radio – a station for blind and partially sighted listeners – at 6:40pm.

An agreement with Equity has been reached to ensure the original actors are paid royalties for the reruns.

Fixsoniced by The Archers

the-archers-2The tale of Helen and Rob Titchener, characters in the BBC’s radio soap opera “The Archers”, has an entire nation transfixed as the violent conclusion Sunday night’s past saw Helen stabbing her abusive husband in front of their young son. During the episode,  #TheArchers was trending on Twitter as tens of thousands of listeners vented their emotions. The benefits of such high drama was the Helen Titchener (nee Archer) Rescue Fund, which swiftly hit its target of raising 100,000 pounds ($142,000) for the domestic abuse charity Refuge.

Find out all about the dramatic events at the In-Cyprus Article.

The Social Contract of Radio Drama

05DADDCE0000044D-3498014-image-a-10_1458262607996At the Sonic Society we try to demonstrate that radio drama opens up conversation in the areas of social and political concern. Many communities around the world may not have wide distribution to televisions or Internet, but they have radio. Radio can teach and delight (to borrow from Philip Sidney). Case in point, from The Daily MailHow The Archers helps abuse victims: Charity bosses say radio drama’s storyline about domestic violence has led to calls to national helpline increasing by a fifth speaks to the recent abuse of the character Rob Titchener bullying his wife, Helen Archer. According to the Daily Mail article, calls to the UK’s Domestic Abuse Help Line went up 17% and the show set up a giving page for charity refuge for abused spouses.

Read the rest of the article and consider how social conditions might improve in your area by a thought provoking conversation about the issues that affect your community.

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