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Ambridge Extra
Ambridge Extra logo used on the BBC website
GenreSoap opera
Running time15 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4 Extra
Produced byJulie Beckett
Sara Conkey
Rosie Boulton
Edited byVanessa Whitburn
Sean O'Connor (from mid-September 2013)[1]
Recording studioBBC Birmingham
Original release5 April 2011 (2011-04-05) –
5 September 2013 (2013-09-05)
No. of series5
No. of episodes112
Audio formatStereophonic sound
Opening theme"Barwick Green" arranged by Bellowhead
WebsiteOfficial website

Ambridge Extra is an extension of the long-running radio drama The Archers. It began broadcasting sporadically on the digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra from 5 April 2011. The programme ran for five series, before it was "rested".

Overview

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Ambridge Extra ran in addition to The Archers and gave an insight into other areas of the characters' lives.[2] Writer Tim Stimpson explained the show "should be a little extra gift to our regular Archers listeners, crafted with affection and giving them a new perspective on life in Ambridge."[3] He stated that the team wanted the series to be accessible for people who had never listened to The Archers before.[3] Ambridge Extra featured a number of new or previously silent and minor characters from the main series and initially focussed on several of the younger characters.[2] The programme was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday with an omnibus on Sunday, all following The Archers on Radio 4.[4] The Archers theme tune "Barwick Green" was re-arranged for Ambridge Extra, and was performed by folk group Bellowhead.[5]

The first series of Ambridge Extra ran for 13 weeks (26 episodes) from April through to June 2011.[4] A second 13-week series began airing from 4 October 2011 at 2.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.[6] It was produced by Sara Conkey and Rosie Boulton.[7] Ambridge Extra was recommissioned for a third series, which began airing from 3 July 2012.[8] A fourth series was broadcast from 4 December 2012.[9] When the fifth series of Ambridge Extra began on 2 July 2013,[10] there was much criticism over key scenes appearing in the show rather than The Archers.[11]

On 30 January 2014, it was confirmed that Ambridge Extra would not be returning for a sixth series and was going to be "rested".[12] Anita Singh from The Daily Telegraph reported that the show was "highly unlikely" to return.[12] The commissioning editor for Radio 4 Extra stated "Our Ambridge Extra decision won't impact on The Archers in any way, but across the BBC we are having to make tough financial choices and prioritise and protect the services and content that deliver the most value to audiences."[12]

Reception

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Listener response to the early episodes were largely negative.[13][14][15] Vicki Power from The Daily Telegraph suggested that the series showed potential, but needed to include storylines that the main show could "not afford to ignore", suggesting that the current format felt like listening to "the reserve team".[13] The show was nicknamed AMEX by listeners.[5] It was also dubbed "Archers Lite". The show attracted an average audience of 250,000 listeners per week, compared with the main show's five million.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Davies, Keri (5 August 2013). "New Archers editor announced". BBC. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b "About Ambridge Extra". BBC Radio 4 Extra. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b Stimpson, Tim (5 April 2011). "Ambridge Extra, by the writer of the first episode". BBC. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b Davies, Keri (16 March 2011). "Ambridge Extra on BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC Archers website. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b Anita Singh (5 April 2011). "Folk-rock Archers theme tune fails to charm listeners". The Daily Telegraph.
  6. ^ "Network Radio BBC Week 40: Tuesday 4 October 2011". BBC Press Office. BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. ^ Davies, Keri (27 September 2011). "Ambridge Extra returns". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Ambridge Extra". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Limited. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Returns in December". BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  10. ^ Brown, David (29 June – 5 July 2013). "Ambridge Diary". Radio Times (27). Immediate Media Company Ltd: 131.
  11. ^ Furness, Hannah (12 July 2013). "Go digital or you will miss even more drama, Archers fans warned". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d Singh, Anita (30 January 2014). "Archers bosses axe Ambridge Extra from BBC Radio 4 Extra". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b Vicki Power (6 April 2011). "Ambridge Extra is a damp squib: first review". The Daily Telegraph.
  14. ^ Gonsalves, Rebecca (6 April 2011). "First Listen: Ambridge Extra, BBC Radio 4 Extra". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011.
  15. ^ Day, Elizabeth (17 July 2011). "Rewind radio: Today; The World at One; PM; Richard Bacon; Ambridge Extra; Bigipedia – review". The Observer.
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